Walz’s Departure: Conspiracy Theories, Threats, and the Limits of Debunking
The governor, Tim Walz, was forced to defend his administration due to a baseless conspiracy theory that did not directly implicate him, ultimately leading to his departure from the campaign. This situation mirrors the real-world chaos of Pizzagate, a right-wing conspiracy theory that caused a dangerous incident at a Washington, D.C. restaurant in 2016. In the current context, the conspiracy theory gained traction online, prompting Trump to take action, including suspending childcare funding and promoting a related theory about a Democratic lawmaker.