The far-right QAnon conspiracy web hinges on the delusion that a "deep state" of satanic cannibal pedophiles secretly controls the United States and global governments, and that former President Donald Trump was sent by God to expose them.
If that wasn't deranged enough, a fringe group of QAnon subscribers, led by antisemitic conspiracy theorist Michael Protzman, is convinced that John F. Kennedy Jr. didn't die in that tragic 1999 plane crash, but is in fact still alive and preparing to run with Trump on the 2024 presidential ticket.
Last November, Protzman lured hundreds of QAnon followers to the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, promising Kennedy's and Kennedy Jr.'s return to public life and the vindication of these fantasies. While many of them left after realizing none of the Kennedys would be materializing, dozens remained with Protzman in a movement that swiftly transformed into a cult.
Protzman's followers left their families, maxed out savings with payments to him, drank toxic solutions they erroneously believed would ward off COVID-19, and subscribed to Protzman's lies that he was "God's representative on earth" who could tell the future.
This past weekend, Protzman and his followers traveled from Dallas to Arizona for one of Trump's first major rallies of the new year, with Protzman promising a wealth of revelations.
Of course, Trump's rally ended up being fairly standard. The former President ranted about his political enemies, lied that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him, and lamented the state of the nation under President Joe Biden.
But Protzman now insists that it wasn't Trump at the rally at all, but rather John F. Kennedy in disguise.
Watch below.
In a live chat Michael Protzman -48 talks about the Trump rally and explains that Kari Lake was endorsed by JFK and that JFK was disguised as Trump. pic.twitter.com/KbMTAbvT6B
— 2022 Karma (@2022_Karma) January 16, 2022
Protzman said the proof was when Trump brought up Arizona gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake, who was a featured speaker at the rally.
In a telecast, Protzman—who's also known to some of his followers as Negative48—said:
"She spoke, but then, once JFK—aka Trump—got up there, he invited her up again. Why? So you could see how tall she was in relationship to Trump, and it didn't add up. So everything has a reason and a purpose. And that's why he invited her back up, because she already came up and gave her big speech ... He brought her up again just so you could see how tall he was in relationship to how tall she is, and you could tell it wasn't Trump."
The level of Protzman's delusion, and that of his followers, had social media users alarmed.
Look…the minute an elected official runs on Trumps name, they should be relocated to the trash heap of history and treated as such. It is a cult, he is an idol, and he betrayed our country on multiple levels. This is all so infuriating. https://t.co/a5CeAiF7LK
— Judson (@scanlon72116) January 18, 2022
These people are mentally ill. https://t.co/3KZjSOKJWK
— Carl (@dexter111344) January 18, 2022
This is lunacy! https://t.co/gcL4V68qKq
— Angela Mison (@angelamison2) January 18, 2022
OMG...even w/ ALL the pharmaceuticals I have consumed in my life time..... I could never spout these insane & inane things this dude is talking about .....
JFK ?
I STILL can not believe people think he is alive 🤯 https://t.co/eTrd18dYmQ
— nan a (@bellasorrisa7) January 17, 2022
Like, these are some of the people who came to Trump's rally. You don't find normal political causes with a group like thishttps://t.co/HFwFPMrD1s
— Thomas Lecaque (@tlecaque) January 17, 2022
Insane.
These people are an insane cult, fraught with existential danger https://t.co/GaiNmdlVdw
— Shoulda Known (@known_shoulda) January 17, 2022
People pointed out that JFK's age alone (he was born in 1917) was enough to disprove Protzman's conspiracy theory.
JFK would be 104yr lol
— Voice of reason (@HaloBoltMan) January 18, 2022
They always seem to ignore the fact that JFK would be like 107…
— Moose McMasters (@McmastersMoose) January 17, 2022
JFK is looking pretty healthy for 105 year old man.
— Sergeant Mike (@mjfk1957) January 18, 2022
Trump has repeatedly refused to disavow QAnon.