Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) publicly rebuked members of his own party on Monday after a new survey revealed that roughly one in three Democrats believe the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month was a staged event. In a blunt post on X, Fetterman wrote, “Assassinations + political violence are real. My party can’t be the tin foil hat brigade.” He added, “I was there a table away and I promise you, this was not staged.”
The poll, conducted by NewsGuard in collaboration with YouGov, surveyed 1,000 American adults between April 28 and May 4. It found that 34 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans believe the WHCA dinner shooting was staged. Overall, 56 percent of respondents said the Washington Hilton shooting was staged, while 45 percent disagreed. The survey also revealed that 30 percent of all respondents believe at least one of the assassination attempts against President Trump was staged.
NewsGuard, a company that rates news sources, said it was so “surprised” by the results that it asked YouGov to recheck the data. After verification, the findings held. The shooting at the WHCA dinner is part of a broader wave of politically charged violence, including the public assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the fatal shooting of Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortmann (D), and an arson attempt at the Philadelphia governor’s mansion occupied by Governor Josh Shapiro (D).
Lawmakers across the aisle have urged colleagues to dial back heated partisan rhetoric, even as they trade blame for the uptick in violent incidents. President Trump has argued that the multiple assassination attempts on his life stem from the consequential decisions his administration is making.
On Tuesday, Cole Allen, the alleged gunman in the WHCA dinner attack, pleaded not guilty to four federal charges, including attempting to assassinate Trump. The suspect entered his plea in federal court, denying the charges.
Fetterman, known for his blunt style and moderate stances, has increasingly positioned himself as a voice against conspiracy theories within the Democratic Party. He recently told Bill Maher that he feels isolated as a moderate, and this latest outburst underscores his frustration with what he sees as a growing willingness among Democrats to embrace unfounded narratives.
The poll results have sparked debate about the role of misinformation in American politics, with some analysts pointing to the erosion of trust in institutions as a key driver. The WHCA dinner shooting, which occurred in a high-security venue, has been the subject of intense scrutiny, but law enforcement officials have consistently stated there is no evidence to support claims that it was staged.
