On 19 April 2024, an American man set himself on fire outside a courthouse in New York where former President Donald Trump was on trial. Prior to self-immolation, the man threw pamphlets espousing anti-government conspiracies. In the wake of the 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, the incident has re-raised questions about the relationship between America’s far-right and the Republican Party. In particular, the role of conspiracy theories in promoting anti-government rhetoric and legitimising political violence. The presence of QAnon at the 2021 Capitol Insurrection drew a visible link between the Republican party and far-right conspiracy groups.
In 2017, QAnon rose to prominence as a conspiracy theory and then a political movement. QAnon’s foundational belief is that a “corrupt cabal of global elites run a Satan-worshipping international child sex trafficking ring”. [source] QAnon further claims this ‘cabal’ engaged in plots to coup former US president Donald Trump. Since January 2021, violent QAnon activity has significantly decreased and support from previously QAnon-aligned Republicans is less overt.
Key Judgement 1. It is likely the failed 2021 siege on the US Capitol accelerated disillusionment among QAnon adherents.
Key Judgement 2. It is likely QAnon is losing its fringe position within the Republican Party.
Key Judgement 3. It is likely the decline in violent QAnon incidents since 2021 correlates with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and a social media crackdown on the movement.
