Donald Trump took to Twitter Monday night to suggest that Iran executed Shahram Amiri — a nuclear scientist accused of providing the United States with information on Tehran’s nuclear program — because he was apparently referenced in emails on the private server Hillary Clinton used for official State Department business.

“Many people are saying that the Iranians killed the scientist who helped the U.S. because of Hillary Clinton’s hacked emails,” Trump tweeted.

Many people are saying that the Iranians killed the scientist who helped the U.S. because of Hillary Clinton’s hacked emails. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2016

On CBS’ “Face The Nation,” Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton initially floated the idea behind Trump’s tweet.

“I’m not going to comment on what he may or may not have done for the United States government, but in the emails that were on Hillary Clinton’s private server, there were conversations among her senior advisers about this gentleman,” Cotton said. “That goes to show just how reckless and careless her decision was to put that kind of highly classified information on a private server.”

But critics quickly pushed back to debunk the Trump’s claim.

No, Donald. You are the only one saying it. And you are wrong. https://t.co/i6hdJF4HPY https://t.co/NJxbBeoJ22 — Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) August 8, 2016

“Despite what you might read on Donald Trump’s twitter feed,” the Washington Post’s Josh Rogin wrote, “the Iranian execution of a nuclear scientist who defected to the United States and then changed his mind was not caused by Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. The scientist outed himself; it wasn’t Clinton’s fault.”

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On Sunday, an Iranian judiciary spokesman said Amiri, who defected to the United States in 2009 but returned to Iran, had been executed for treason. But there is no evidence that his execution was related to Clinton’s emails.

Cotton’s appearance led to a headline on the Drudge Report and Trump’s subsequent tweet, which inspired a hashtag #ManyPeopleAreSaying mocking his approach to pushing conspiracy theories without explicitly endorsing them.

Many people are saying Antonio Sabàto Jr. deserves an Oscar. — (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) August 8, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying The Iranian scientist would give up the Trump hair secret. — Justin (@SputnikAZ) August 8, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying the Trumps are the Beverly Hillbillies of Manhattan pic.twitter.com/nR6hQWlmm0 — Karen J (@KaJo503) August 9, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying they can believe it’s not butter — Timmy Hate (@TimmyHate) August 8, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying that Donald Trump is an elaborate Illuminati plot — Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) August 8, 2016

#manypeoplearesaying that Trump stole the idea of the wall from Pink Floyd. — Jesse Barnett (@rightarmjesse) August 8, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying @realDonaldTrump is a secret Muslim. Not me. But many people do say that. pic.twitter.com/Jv4hUG8xlm — Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 9, 2016

Many people say Vladimir Putin replaced Donald Trump’s fillings with mind controlling Russian microchips. Not me, but many people say it. — Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 9, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying

these hands cannot even hold a whole piece of chicken no i am serious many people pic.twitter.com/VW5NqEliax — darth™ (@darth) August 9, 2016

#ManyPeopleAreSaying that this is the best gif ever. pic.twitter.com/459EBViP2k — Just Maybe (@ShomahKhoobi) August 9, 2016

At a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, Trump used the “many people” line yet again, this time to illustrate the threat of ISIS facing Europe.

In Wilmington, North Carolina, Trump drops another “many people are saying…” pic.twitter.com/byZ75qkLp8 — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) August 9, 2016

The real estate mogul has a history of using that phrase to fuel to his controversial claims.

Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted.We have enuf enemies — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2015

Many people are equating BREXIT, and what is going on in Great Britain, with what is happening in the U.S. People want their country back! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2016

So many people have told me that I should host Meet the Press and replace the moron who is on now. Just too busy, especially next 10 years! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2015

Many people think that WM23 @WrestleMania “the battle of the billionaires” was the greatest of all time—set all records — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2015

@PhilStephen The Scotland golf course in Aberdeen is open & packed—really cool to see & many are saying the greatest golf course ever built. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2013

“@dmolesevich: @realDonaldTrump you are the only person that can beat Hillary” Many are saying that, interesting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2014

But this one, many people might say, is the most controversial.