Information from social ties predicts conspiracy beliefs: Evidence from the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

Belief in conspiracy theories has significant social and political consequences. While prior research has focused primarily on psychological predispositions as drivers of conspiracy beliefs, relatively less is known about the role of social networks. Here, we examine how information received from different sources is linked to the endorsement of conspiracy theories, using the 2024 attempted assassination of presidential candidate Donald Trump as a case study. In surveys conducted days after the attack, social media was the most commonly reported source of conspiracy theories about the event. At the same time, information consumption on social media was not consistently associated with stronger conspiracy beliefs. In contrast, information received through interpersonal ties was more closely linked to belief in both left-leaning and right-leaning conspiratorial narratives. These findings highlight the importance of examining the social dimensions of conspiracy belief formation. Understanding how interpersonal communication shapes conspiracy beliefs is critical for explaining their spread and persistence. Future research would benefit from further investigating the social contexts that sustain conspiratorial thinking.