In a concerning development, pro-Kremlin websites and social media accounts are propagating unfounded allegations that Ukraine orchestrated a potential assassination attempt on Donald Trump. This disinformation campaign coincides with a Senate hearing involving tech industry leaders addressing efforts by Russia and other U.S. adversaries to interfere in the upcoming election.
The incident in question occurred on Sunday, September 15, 2024, when Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old individual, allegedly pointed a rifle toward a Florida golf course where Trump was playing. Shortly after Routh's identification, Russian state media outlets and officials on social media began portraying him as an agent working for Kyiv, despite a lack of evidence supporting this claim.
While Routh's social media posts indicate he was a supporter of Ukraine who had traveled there and attempted to join the war effort, Ukrainian government officials have categorically denied any connection between Routh and their government or military. This denial, however, has not stopped the spread of these unsubstantiated claims.
McKenzie Sadeghi, NewsGuard's AI and foreign influence editor, explained the motivation behind this narrative: "The primary motive is to undermine Western support for Ukraine, which is a common thread we see across all narratives advanced by Russia."
The timing of this disinformation campaign is particularly significant, as it comes less than 50 days before the polls close in the U.S. election. On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing with tech industry leaders to address the intensifying attempts by Russia, Iran, and China to use social media for election interference.
Brad Smith of Microsoft, Kent Walker of Google, and Nick Clegg of Meta faced questions about their efforts to counter these foreign influences. Microsoft's recent research revealed that Russia was escalating its efforts to undermine the Harris-Walz campaign, including circulating a false video accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of paralyzing a girl in a hit-and-run incident.
The Justice Department has also taken action, charging two Russian media executives in early September 2024 for allegedly funneling almost $10 million to a Tennessee-based media company. This company produced social media videos echoing Russian state propaganda, attracting 16 million views on YouTube alone.
The origin of the Russian claims about Routh's supposed links to Ukraine can be traced to a tweet by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday, September 16, 2024. Medvedev speculated about the possibility of Routh being hired by the "neo-nazi regime in Kiev" for the assassination attempt. This post garnered over 750,000 views and was subsequently amplified by other pro-Russian accounts.
As these events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that combating foreign interference and disinformation in the digital age remains a significant challenge for both tech companies and government agencies. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to cast a long shadow over international relations and information warfare, with potential implications for democratic processes worldwide.
"I wonder what would happen if it turned out [Routh] was himself hired by the neo-nazi regime in Kiev for this assassination attempt?"