A rumor alleging that Janeen DiGuiseppi, an FBI assistant director, was present during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has been firmly debunked.
Multiple sources, including the FBI itself, have confirmed the claim about the agency leader to be entirely false, as Snopes explains.
Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an attempt on his life on July 13, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In the days following, social media lit up with claims that FBI Assistant Director Janeen DiGuiseppi was allegedly present at the rally, seen seated directly behind Trump.
The rumor suggested that DiGuiseppi's presence indicated the plot was an "inside job" orchestrated by official law enforcement. This unfounded theory soon went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit, with various users speculating DiGuiseppi’s involvement in coordinating the shooter.
Some social media comments fanned the flames further, alleging that the assassination attempt was even state-sponsored and led by Democratic President Joe Biden. One online user declared, "Inside job and they will never prove it wasn't. History repeats itself JFK pt. 2."
The FBI’s press office responded swiftly and unequivocally to these allegations. An FBI spokesperson labeled the claims as "categorically false."
Authorities have faced challenges in identifying the shooter's motive, but there is no evidence to support these conspiracy theories. The viral spread of the rumor complicated the official efforts to manage public perception and maintain order.
The woman who sparked the rumors bore barely any resemblance to DiGuiseppi. This individual was noted to have long brown hair and wore sunglasses and a baseball cap. Her facial features did not match those of DiGuiseppi.
DiGuiseppi has never been assigned to duties in Pennsylvania, further disproving her alleged presence at the rally. She had no legitimate reason to attend the rally in Butler, and assertions that she directed the shooter are entirely baseless.
Janeen DiGuiseppi was appointed assistant director of the Insider Threat Office at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in August 2023. Before this, she served as a special agent in charge of the Albany Field Office in New York starting in August 2021. DiGuiseppi’s service history with the FBI dates back to her joining the bureau in 1999.
It is also important to note that the FBI was not responsible for organizing or handling security at the rally. The agency took over the investigation only after the attack occurred, underlining that DiGuiseppi's participation in the event would have been an odd anomaly.
In the aftermath of the attack, law enforcement and federal agencies concentrated on the concerted investigation of the incident. Such unsubstantiated rumors pose a challenge to the ongoing investigative processes, despite their virality online.
The rapid spread of such misinformation demonstrates the considerable power and potential hazards of social media. As seen, even outlandish theories can gain traction and potentially vindicate wild and provocative conjectures among the public.
