Updates (last updated 8/20/20): This piece has been updated multiple times with additional information.

QAnon has been tied to murder and militia groups, and the FBI flagged it as a potential terror threat

The QAnon conspiracy theory has been tied to acts of violence, used by anti-government groups, and was flagged as a potential domestic terror threat by the FBI. The QAnon conspiracy theory began in October 2017 on 4chan, a site connected to white nationalists, with an account called “Q” claiming that Trump was working with special counsel Robert Mueller to take down the president’s perceived enemies and the “deep state.” The conspiracy theory then moved to 8chan, another message board tied to white nationalists and mass shooters which recently went offline, and it has also spread elsewhere online among Trump supporters. [Vox, 8/1/18; Media Matters, 8/2/18]

The QAnon conspiracy theory has been tied to multiple violent incidents and threats of violence, including a man accused of murdering his brother with a sword, a man accused of murdering an alleged crime boss, a man who reportedly threatened to kill YouTube employees, an armed man who blocked the Hoover Dam with an armored vehicle, and even a man who threatened to assassinate Trump, among numerous other incidents. Additionally, its supporters even targeted a charter school and forced it to cancel an annual fundraiser, and another QAnon follower was arrested for reportedly plotting with other supporters to plan a kidnapping “raid.” The conspiracy theory has also become increasingly popular among border militias and anti-government groups. [The Daily Beast, 8/11/18, 9/27/18, 1/9/19, 1/4/20; BuzzFeed, 6/17/18; The New York Times, 7/21/19; The Daily Dot, 5/10/19; Southern Poverty Law Center, 4/23/19]

In May 2019, an FBI field office released a memo that listed QAnon as a potential domestic terrorism threat. [Yahoo News, 8/1/19]

Trump has praised QAnon supporters, keeps amplifying QAnon supporters on Twitter, and has met with multiple QAnon supporters

Trump praised QAnon supporters, saying they “love our country.” On August 19, Trump, in response to a question about the conspiracy theory and its supporters, said he “appreciate[s]” that “they like me very much,” adding that “these are people that love our country.” When a reporter then noted that the conspiracy theory’s premise is that Trump is “secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals,” Trump said, “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.” [Media Matters, 8/19/20; Politico, 8/19/20]

Trump keeps amplifying QAnon Twitter accounts. Since 2017, Trump has amplified Twitter accounts promoting the conspiracy theory at least 216 times.

From November 25, 2017:

Question: When will Trump retweet a Q-Anon account and promote a Q-Anon website? Answer: Trick question. He already has. On Nov. 25, 2017 Trump quote tweeted @MAGAPILL, which included a link to their website. The site has been promoting Q-Anon since before Trump's quote tweet. pic.twitter.com/q1G1YXbPr5 — Travis View (@travis_view) August 1, 2018

From October 14, 2018: