Trump embraces QAnon supporters who claim he is saving world from a 'deep-state cabal of Satanist pedophiles'
President Donald Trump embraced supporters of QAnon, an underground movement that believes the commander-in-chief is saving the world from a global satanic child sex ring. “I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand that they like me very much, which I appreciate,” Trump said of the conspiracy group during a news briefing at the White House. While Trump has previously flirted with conspiracy theories while in office, his comments on Wednesday went "the farthest yet" toward embracing QAnon, Politico reported.
Supporters of the theory, which has gained popularity among Trump's base, claim that Trump is working to defeat a "deep-state cabal of Satanist pedophiles in the American government" and is communicating to the masses with the help of a mysterious figure within the federal government.
The president, on Wednesday, insisted that the group comprised of patriotic Americans who are concerned about the law and order crisis across the nation. “I have heard that it is gaining in popularity, and from what I hear, these are people that when they watch the streets of Portland, when they watch what happened in New York City,” Trump said, “these are people that don’t like seeing what’s going on.” “I’ve heard these are people that love our country and they just don't like seeing it,” he explained. “So I don’t know really anything about it other than they do supposedly like me and they also would like to see problems in these areas, like especially the areas that we’re talking about, go away.”
A reporter then proceeded to outline QAnon's beliefs to the president, saying how they believe he is “secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals." “I haven't heard that,” Trump shrugged as he responded. “But is that supposed to be a bad thing or good thing? If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to put myself out there.”
“And we are, actually. We’re saving the world from a radical-left philosophy that will destroy this country, and when this country is gone, the rest of the world would follow," he added. "The rest of the world would follow. That’s the importance of this country.”
Earlier in the day, Facebook announced it was stepping up efforts to crack down on QAnon-associated accounts. The social media giant has since taken down hundreds of pages linked to the group and punished more than 10,000 accounts on Instagram. The action reportedly also addresses anarchist and militia groups plotting or facilitating violence linked to recent protests. However, the company declared these groups "have demonstrated significant risks to public safety but do not meet the rigorous criteria to be designated as a dangerous organization and banned from having any presence on our platform."
"While we will allow people to post content that supports these movements and groups, so long as they do not otherwise violate our content policies, we will restrict their ability to organize on our platform," Facebook said in a blog post.