A top political adviser to a Democratic billionaire has issued an apology for suggesting a conspiracy theory regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The adviser, Dmitri Mehlhorn, expressed regret for sending an email without consulting his team, which speculated that the incident could have been a false-flag operation.
In his statement, Mehlhorn acknowledged his mistake and publicly apologized for allowing his words to detract from the central fact that political violence resulted in the loss of an innocent American life. He emphasized the importance of uniting in condemnation of such violence without reservation, stating that any other topic is a distraction.
The memo, initially reported by Semafor, outlined the unsettling possibility that the shooting was encouraged or even staged to benefit Trump by generating photos and capitalizing on the subsequent backlash. Mehlhorn, a trusted adviser to a prominent Democratic donor and Trump critic, highlighted the global prevalence of such tactics, despite their seeming alien nature in America.
The billionaire in question, known for co-founding LinkedIn and supporting various anti-Trump initiatives, has distanced himself from the conspiracy theory. The incident underscores the sensitivity and gravity of discussing political violence and the need for responsible communication in the public sphere.
