Russia and China pounce on rally shooting to undermine U.S.

Russia and China exploited the shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., to sow discord by blaming President Biden and Democrats for the violence. They used social media to spread false conspiracy theories, portraying the U.S. as a nation in decline on the brink of civil war. Iranian accounts falsely linked the gunman to antifa. Foreign adversaries leveraged the chaotic post-shooting news cycle to depict the U.S. as violent and unstable, aiming to advance their own political agendas. Russia and China have a history of using state-controlled media and social platforms to spread negative narratives about the U.S. and engage in influence operations. The spike in online foreign interference coincides with advancements in artificial intelligence, making it easier for small actors to spread misinformation. Social media platforms have scaled back efforts against foreign misinformation, raising concerns about the spread of false narratives and the potential impact on political processes. The FBI is investigating the shooting, but the motive remains unclear.