Some QAnon supporters expressed their frustration in online forums and chat rooms about Joe Biden. 's inauguration Most of them believed that a coup would take place on inauguration day to keep Donald Trump in power .
However, things did not turn out as they wanted.
Conspiracy theorists believed that Wednesday's inauguration was an elaborate trap by the former president, where Democrats would be arrested and executed while Trump would retain power.
Apparently, their predictions came true, as Joe Biden's inauguration went ahead as planned. QAnon members said on messaging apps (Telegram and elsewhere) and forums that they felt betrayed .
After the inauguration, a post on the QAnon forum stated: “I don’t think this was supposed to happen” and wondered: “How long does it take to arrest him?”
Other users, however, immediately expressed their disappointment on social media when they realized that their dreams of a bloody coup would not come true.
“Is anyone else feeling this disappointed?” one person wrote on a forum. “It’s like being a kid and seeing the big present under the tree and thinking it’s exactly what you want and when you open it you realize it was a piece of coal,” he added.
One of the largest QAnon groups on Telegram briefly closed comments. When it reopened after being accused of censorship, thousands of users rushed to comment. The prevailing reactions were confusion and the realization that QAnon was actually a hoax, although some tried to defend the conspiracy theory.
Ron Watkins, former administrator of QAnon hub 8kun and a proponent of conspiracy theories surrounding the election results, posted a message to his 100,000 followers: “We gave it our all. Now we must hold onto our optimism and get back to our lives as best we can.”
QAnon supporters have turned to apps like Telegram and Gab after being banned by major platforms like Facebook. The social media platform said it since November conspiracy theory.
QAnon followers had been preparing for weeks for the supposed events that would occur on Biden's inauguration day, warning their friends and family via Facebook to buy CB radios and stock up on food. They believed that Trump would declare martial law via the Emergency Alert System before carrying out mass arrests.
Travis View, who hosts the podcast QAnon Anonymous, said those who make money from the conspiracy theory have a hard time convincing followers to stay loyal after the false prediction.
“QAnon influencers who have built large followings over the past three years continue to encourage their audiences to trust the scheme,” View said. “Many QAnon followers are expressing anger and frustration.”
QAnon supporters also participated in the attack on the Capitol US January 6, including a man wearing a QAnon shirt and leading a group of protesters towards the Senate chamber.
The company Logically.AI tracked some conversations between fans and saw comments like:
“God help us to be ready. If nothing happens, I will no longer believe in anything“.
After the swearing-in, many commented that they had been deceived.
Logically.AI researcher Nick Backovic said that while it appears many QAnon followers are giving up after this failed prophecy, white supremacists are already trying to recruit disillusioned conspiracy theorists.
Source: NBC News
