Alex Kaplan
@alkapdc.bsky.social
Senior Researcher at Media Matters, focusing on social media misinformation, disinformation, & online extremism. Statements are mine, not employer's. Send tips to [email protected].
It would also come as Trump has military intervened in Venezuela, who Byrne has claimed was involved in election fraud in 2020. A Trump U.S. attorney is reportedly investigating that conspiracy theory.
A key figure with the false conspiracy theory connecting Venezuela to false claims of 2020 election fraud has been conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne.
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
January 16, 2026 at 6:51 PM
It would also come as Trump has military intervened in Venezuela, who Byrne has claimed was involved in election fraud in 2020. A Trump U.S. attorney is reportedly investigating that conspiracy theory.
This alleged visit would be the 2nd known time Byrne has visited the White House.
In December 2020, he was part of a group of election deniers at a White House meeting where the group reportedly urged Trump to seize voting machines.
In December 2020, he was part of a group of election deniers at a White House meeting where the group reportedly urged Trump to seize voting machines.
January 16, 2026 at 6:51 PM
This alleged visit would be the 2nd known time Byrne has visited the White House.
In December 2020, he was part of a group of election deniers at a White House meeting where the group reportedly urged Trump to seize voting machines.
In December 2020, he was part of a group of election deniers at a White House meeting where the group reportedly urged Trump to seize voting machines.
The department's posts come as Trump has appealed to & boosted the QAnon community for years.
A QAnon influencer in response to the department's posts noted this:
"Whether you like it or not, Trump has been leaning into the whole Q thing for years, & he’s becoming less & less subtle about it."
A QAnon influencer in response to the department's posts noted this:
"Whether you like it or not, Trump has been leaning into the whole Q thing for years, & he’s becoming less & less subtle about it."
January 14, 2026 at 8:51 PM
The department's posts come as Trump has appealed to & boosted the QAnon community for years.
A QAnon influencer in response to the department's posts noted this:
"Whether you like it or not, Trump has been leaning into the whole Q thing for years, & he’s becoming less & less subtle about it."
A QAnon influencer in response to the department's posts noted this:
"Whether you like it or not, Trump has been leaning into the whole Q thing for years, & he’s becoming less & less subtle about it."
That post Trump amplified from that QAnon figure (Chad Vivas) was additionally a response to Trump posting a link to & video from a separate QAnon figure ("The SCIF"). Trump had repeatedly amplified The SCIF in recent days at the time.
Between Christmas & today, Trump shared images of & links to posts from QAnon influencer "The SCIF" at least 8 times, all to push false election fraud claims.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
January 8, 2026 at 10:31 PM
That post Trump amplified from that QAnon figure (Chad Vivas) was additionally a response to Trump posting a link to & video from a separate QAnon figure ("The SCIF"). Trump had repeatedly amplified The SCIF in recent days at the time.