Russia National Security Threat Sparks MAGA Conspiracy Theories

A mysterious new Russian security threat has sparked a wave of conspiracy theories on X, formerly Twitter.

On Wednesday Republican House intelligence chair Mike Turner revealed the existence of information about a "serious national security threat" that he urged the Biden administration to declassify. This was later reported by The New York Times to involve a Russian nuclear anti-satellite weapon in space.

Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X: "Does anyone really believe that there is a serious Russian threat that magically leaks about 30 seconds after the Speaker said they're not going to take up funding another $60 billion in Ukraine?

"Is anyone stupid enough to buy this at this point? Textbook deep state propaganda!"

The post was shared by House Republican Lauren Boebert who added: "Funny thing, ain't it?"

Fox News host Jesse Watters wrote: "America is apparently facing a national security threat from Russia that's so terrifying, our own government said they couldn't tell us what it is. Democrats are saying it's serious, but there's no need to panic.

"Something about today's news cycle seems deliberate. I hope I'm wrong, but we've been deceived into raiding the treasury for foreign adventures before."

The MAGA Kitty X account, which has nearly 8,000 followers, also raised skepticism about the security threat, posting a meme showing Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movie series making sarcastic hand gestures.

They posted: "Speaker Johnson: 'Ukraine funding bill is DOA [dead on arrival]' ONE DAY LATER... Deep State: 'But...but...but...Russia has space lasers!'"

The security threat became public knowledge on Wednesday when Rep. Turner shared a statement on X urging the government to make what it knows public.

He wrote: "Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat.

"I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat."

The post sparked a wave of speculation on social media with a number of X users suggesting, without evidence, that the threat could involve aliens.

National security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in the White House later on Wednesday that the "gang of eight," consisting of Democrat and Republican congressional leaders, would be briefed about the threat on Thursday.

Citing unnamed sources, The New York Times said the threat in question involved a Russian nuclear anti-satellite weapon and that some of America's closest allies had been briefed.

Earlier this week the Senate voted to approve a $95 billion foreign aid package, including an additional $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine, which has been battling a Russian invasion since February 2022.

The legislation must now pass the House before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden but Speaker Mike Johnson, who has linked passing foreign aid to a dramatic tightening of security along the U.S.-Mexican border, has refused to guarantee he will bring the bill to a vote.

A bipartisan Senate bill including the foreign aid package, additional border security and tougher asylum rules was torpedoed last week by Republican hardliners, including Johnson, who claimed it was insufficient to tackle illegal immigration.

On February 10, Donald Trump, by some margin the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner, sparked controversy by saying he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO members who he believes are falling short on their financial commitments to the alliance.

The United States is obliged to defend any NATO member that comes under attack as part of the alliance's Article 5 commitment. Addressing a rally in South Carolina, Trump relayed a conversation he claimed took place with "one of the presidents of a big country" in NATO who asked if the U.S. would defend them even though they were falling short of the alliance's guideline that states at least 2 percent of national GDP should be spent of defense.

He replied: "I said, 'You didn't pay, you're delinquent?' In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills."