However, several figures from the American right sought to undermine the authenticity of the rally, claiming variously that it was conducted by federal law enforcement agents in disguise, and/or left-wing agents provocateurs, or actors. For example, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., described the men shown in one video as “movie characters”:
“No Patriot group I’ve ever seen wears khakis, Stormtrooper knee pads, and covers their faces like they’re scared. Just more movie characters.”
For his part, right-wing commentator Dinesh D’Souza speculated that the event was “fake,” and conducted by “FBI agents,” and asked “Where are the media interviews so we can see and hear directly from this group?”
On Telegram, far-right conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl claimed “these are feds,” on the basis that the men shown in videos appeared to be unusually slim,
and Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers, a prominent supporter of disproven election fraud conspiracy theories, described Patriot Front as a “fake group” composed of “feds.”
On Gateway Pundit, right-wing conspiracy theorist Jim Hoft described the event as “feds on parade,” while on the right-wing website 100 Percent Fed Up, Patty McMurray falsely described Patriot Front as “a group no one has ever heard of.”
While McMurray and others may not have been aware of Patriot Front’s existence before December 2021, it is indeed a real, earnestly-motivated white nationalist group with a real, readily verifiable history. Its leader, a 23-year-old Texan named Thomas Ryan Rousseau, is a known far-right and fascist activist in the United States, and he was clearly visible and identifiable at the Dec. 4 National Mall rally.
Claims that the event was faked or staged, by federal agents or actors, are entirely lacking in evidence, and are contradicted by the best available evidence. As a result, we are issuing a rating of “False.”
