A video shared on Donald Trump’s TruthSocial account has sparked controversy by promoting the medbed conspiracy theory in a positive light.
The video featured a fabricated segment resembling Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump, where she discussed purported new medical treatments available at hospitals via medbeds.
In the video, a digitally altered conversation between Lara Trump and Donald Trump, utilizing AI-generated voices, suggested the distribution of “medbed cards” to US citizens for accessing treatments at supposed new medical facilities.
Trump, in the video, calmly asserted that these new hospitals are safe and advanced, aimed at restoring citizens’ health completely. However, there is no credible evidence supporting the claim that these hospitals incorporate technology akin to the alleged capabilities of medbeds as believed by conspiracy theorists.
The video also showcased a medbed card resembling those seen in online advertisements, though a Fox News spokesperson clarified that the video was not broadcast on any Fox News Media platform or on Lara Trump’s show.
The medbed conspiracy theory revolves around the notion of special medical beds capable of treating various conditions, including cancer, and has gained traction among fringe groups on platforms like Telegram.
Conspiracy theorists believe that elites use medbeds to maintain youth and health, proposing that these beds can reverse aging and even regenerate lost limbs.
Questions arise as to why the video was shared on Trump’s official TruthSocial account and whether the account may have been compromised.
Since its posting to Trump’s 10 million followers, the video has garnered over 10,800 likes and has been reposted more than 4,140 times.
Alex Kaplan, a senior researcher focusing on misinformation at Media Matters for America, highlighted Trump’s apparent promotion of the debunked “medbed” conspiracy theory, prevalent in far-right online circles.
Reactions to the video varied, with some speculating on its authenticity or the possibility of hacking, while a minority of viewers supportive of the conspiracy theory praised Trump, despite lingering doubts surrounding the video’s content.
This incident adds to a series of controversies where Trump and his team have faced criticism over health-related assertions. Trump recently discouraged pregnant women from using Tylenol, alleging unfounded links to autism, a claim refuted by the drug’s manufacturer, Kenvue.
Kenvue firmly denied any association between Tylenol and autism, emphasizing the safety of the drug for expectant mothers, and expressed concern over the potential health risks and confusion caused by such claims.
Trump’s engagement with vaccine skeptics in the US, perpetuating narratives linking vaccines to autism, has drawn criticism, with UK