meeting Donald Trump supporters intoxicated by conspiracy theories in Florida

Donald Trump is once again waging a battle on the legal front, but also on the political front. Next November, during the American presidential election, the Republican billionaire hopes to take back the White House from outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden. As in his previous campaigns, he spreads false information and conspiracy theories. Despite his lies, repeatedly combatted by the American media, his base of supporters remains more loyal than ever.

How can we explain that some Americans today seem to be turning away from the facts and prefer this “alternative reality” advocated by their champion? To understand this, journalists from the Franceinfo show “Vrai ou faux” Julien Pain and Alexandre Gras went to meet supporters of the former president in Florida, a state that had become a “Maga” stronghold (the acronym from Donald Trump’s slogan: “Make America Great Again”). Over the course of their meetings, they paint a portrait of an America that is sinking into populism fueled by disinformation.

Every weekend in front of Trump’s home

Lori, a Donald Trump supporter, goes every weekend to a parking lot a few dozen meters from Mar A Lago, the former president’s luxurious residence. There, she waits for hours to see – with a little luck – the man she considers to be the savior of America. She defends Donald Trump’s presidential record, believing that he restored the American economy and curbed inflation during his mandate.

But very quickly, she launches into a conspiratorial tirade, spouting astonishing – and totally false – theories: tunnels would pass under the Capitol in Washington to kidnap children and a global network of child criminals would then come and feast on their blood. . Delusional information that she draws directly from the social networks of the conspiracy group QAnon, which experienced a meteoric rise in American (but also European) public opinion during the Trump presidency.

A TV channel created to promote its ideas

Vic Mellor is a businessman who got involved behind Donald Trump. A long-time far-right activist, he is close to the xenophobic and violent group the Proud Boys, some members of which were involved in the insurrectional assault on the Capitol during the certification of the 2020 presidential results.

The man invested in different projects to promote his ideas. For example, he created a television channel, Patriot TV, to support Donald Trump’s campaign. He also bought an alternative care clinic, run by an associate, a figure in anti-vaccine circles in the United States. A far-right millionaire who also surfs on medical misinformation: a perfect illustration of the mechanics of modern disinformation.

An influencer dubbed by the billionaire

Laura Loomer is an influencer who focuses on immigration. Her speeches are so extreme and violent that she has been suspended on most social networks, except X, Elon Musk’s platform. She regularly spreads disinformation, for example accusing the American Democratic Party of knowingly organizing illegal immigration to change electoral demographics in its favor and win the next presidential election.

Laura Loomer, like Vic Mellor, are far from being marginal characters in the United States. Donald Trump knows the influencer personally, and he regularly sings her praises during meetings or on social networks. If he returns to power, she even hopes to land a position in the White House.