October 26, 2018

Trump Says Explosive Devices Are “Very Unfortunate” Because They Slowed GOP “Momentum”

“‘Bomb’ stuff.”

Ting Shen/ZUMA

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President Donald Trump on Friday took to Twitter to bemoan the impact that the wave of explosive devices sent to prominent Democrats could have on Republican candidates in the upcoming elections.

The tweet—which came just as law enforcement officials announced that two additional packages addressed to former intelligence director James Clapper and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) had been discovered—notably included the word “bomb” in quotes. Many interpreted the punctuation usage as the president embracing right-wing conspiracy theories suggesting that the devices could be part of a “false flag” operation designed to boost Democrats next month.

The tweet came hours after Trump resurrected his attacks against CNN, which earlier this week had received the suspicious package addressed to former CIA director John Brennan. (The package addressed to Clapper on Friday was also addressed to the network’s Manhattan offices, though it never made it to the building.)

Trump’s favorite Fox News talking head Lou Dobbs tweeted—then quickly deleted—a similar false flag on Thursday. The tweet marked one of the more established conservatives to push the false flag theories this week.

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This is a big one for us. So, as we ask you to consider supporting our team's journalism, we thought we'd slow down and check in about where Mother Jones is and where we're going after the chaotic last several years. This comparatively slow moment is also an urgent one for Mother Jones: You can read more in "Slow News Is Good News," and if you're able to, please support our team's hard-hitting journalism and help us reach our big $350,000 goal with a donation today.

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