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QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory, is shaking American politics. Candidates pandering to the supporters of QAnon are projected to win seats for the House of Representatives in the upcoming November elections.
Key Summary: QAnon supporters believe satan-worshipping, pedophilic global elites run the world. The theory started off in 2017 from an online community and evolved into a sizable political movement influencing millions of American voters. They do not hide racists language and white supremacist beliefs, often instigating violence for what they believe is a just cause. Some politicians cater to these voices and are close to clenching tickets to Washington this fall.
QAnon Conspiracy, Explained: It originated from 4chan, an online community infamous for extremist views and unrestraint hate speech. The whole movement can be traced to an anonymous user named “Q” who began posting in 2017, claiming they have a “Q-level clearance” to top secret federal government documents.
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The term QAnon is a blend of the author’s name Q and the word “anonymous.” Q’s articles are filled with allusion, symbolism and alphabet acronyms. Early supporters of Q were drawn to his posts for the mystical tone that resembles a written prophesy. QAnon is an umbrella term for Q’s conspiracy theories and their supporters.
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What runs through the core of Q’s theory is that a group of satan-worshipping, pedophilic global elites and the shadow government “Deep State” control the global affairs. According to QAnon, the key figures of the Democratic party—Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton—Hollywood superstars, a majority of American media and billionaires are all part of this evil elite group. President Donald J. Trump is one of the few exceptions, praised as the only guardian to protect the United States from these corrupt elites.
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A struggle against the Deep State is a matter of survival for many QAnon supporters. In 2018, a QAnon believer in California was arrested after bomb-making materials were found in his car. He planned on setting a bomb in the state Capitol building in Springfield, IL to destroy “a satanic temple monument” and “to make Americans aware of Pizzagate and the New World Order.” Pizzagate refers to a QAnon belief that the Democrats run a sex dungeon designed to abuse children at a Pizzeria basement in Washington, D.C. In 2019, FBI label QAnon as domestic terrorist threat.
From 4chan to Mainstream Politics: With the power of social media, QAnon has grown into an organized group of voters that may exceed millions in number.
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At the primaries of 2020 elections, 67 QAnon supporters registered as candidates. Among them, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was nominated a Republican House candidate. She won by a landslide, taking 60 percent of the votes. Laura Loomer of Florida also won a primary race, becoming a GOP House candidate. Both districts are leaning Republican.
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Greene and Loomer have uttered overtly racists and xenophobic statements. Greene labeled the 2018 elections “an Islamic invasion of our government,” for two Muslim Congresswomen were elected for the first time in the nation’s history. She also called Black voters “slaves of the Democratic Party.” Loomer calls herself a “proud Islamophobe,” having describe the religion as a “cancer of humanity.”
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President Trump refuses to draw a line between him and the QAnon conspiracy theorists. In August, asked on his opinions on QAnon, Trump said they “love our country” and that he appreciates the group’s love for him. Trump has also retweeted dozens of QAnon-related posts.
Uncontrollable Fire: QAnon ideas are laying deep roots into the American society, although Facebook and Twitter has banned QAnon accounts while YouTube has altered its search algorithm to curb the spread of the conspiracy theory. The Atlantic characterized QAnon as a “new religion” and “a movement united in mass rejection of reason, objectivity, and other Enlightenment values.” Even after a Trump defeat, many expect that QAnon supporters would continue to instigate violence and reject the election result, threatening the very foundation of American democracy.
