Alarm for Trump? His Base is Losing Faith! Where are the “Deep State” Arrests?

As Donald Trump campaigned for his second term in 2024, he repeatedly told supporters that his election would be their “final battle” against the “deep state.” Now, four months into his presidency, some of these supporters are expressing frustration over the perceived lack of progress in uncovering the government secrets and delivering the retribution they expected.

While the Trump administration has taken steps such as declassifying documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and pledged to reopen investigations, many of his followers feel that not enough has been done. Despite the president’s cryptic social media posts about Democratic politicians, his Justice Department has not made the widespread arrests of “deep state” actors that some had hoped for.

Conservative commentator Damani Felder recently voiced this sentiment, stating, “People are tired of not knowing. We actually demand answers and real transparency. It’s not that hard to deliver.”

Trump has long promised to dismantle the “deep state,” a term referring to a supposed clandestine network manipulating government decisions. Yotam Ophir, a communications professor at the University at Buffalo, noted that this concept was instrumental in building Trump’s base, describing it as a “fictional universe.” Political scientist Joseph Uscinski from the University of Miami added that delivering on this promise is challenging as many of the alleged conspiracies lack factual basis.

Despite the absence of large-scale “deep state” arrests, President Trump’s second administration has prioritized retribution in other ways. He has dismissed federal employees, appointed loyalists to key positions, and targeted law firms he deems unfavorable. Additionally, he has ordered the revocation of security clearances for political rivals and former employees who were critical of him during his first term. The Justice Department has also terminated prosecutors who investigated him and scrutinized FBI agents involved in the January 6th Capitol attack investigation.

However, many supporters want to see action taken against individuals like Hillary Rodham Clinton and James Comey, whom Trump has long accused of involvement in plots against him. The administration has also not provided evidence of the “egregious crimes” that Trump claims have plagued the federal government for years.

Tensions recently arose when FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, dismissed popular conspiracy theories within Trump’s base, specifically regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s death and the alleged government plot behind the attempted assassination of Trump in 2024. Patel asserted that Epstein’s death was a suicide, a view echoed by Bongino, who claimed to have reviewed the entire file. These statements contradicted earlier suggestions by some conservatives, including Bongino himself, that the government was withholding information about Epstein’s death. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the FBI is reviewing a vast amount of video evidence related to Epstein and will release more information after taking steps to protect victims. Regarding the alleged assassination attempt, Bongino indicated that briefings on the matter revealed no underlying conspiracy.

In an apparent effort to appease Trump’s base, Bongino announced that the FBI would reopen investigations into several high-profile cases, including the pipe bombs found near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 6, 2021, the leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson draft opinion, and the discovery of cocaine at the White House in 2023. However, this announcement did not fully satisfy those seeking answers to the long-standing conspiracy theories.

Philip Anderson, a right-wing influencer who participated in the Capitol riot, expressed his disillusionment, stating, “I am convinced that the deep state can only be defeated by God at this point. Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi are completely useless.”

Meanwhile, President Trump continues to promote conspiracy theories on his Truth Social platform, including content related to the Clinton family and an image suggesting former President Obama’s involvement, accompanied by the text “ALL ROADS LEAD TO OBAMA, RETRUTH IF YOU WANT MILITARY TRIBUNALS.” Professor Ophir suggested that this tactic serves to distract Trump’s base and shield him from criticism.

Trump has also recently promoted theories about President Biden’s use of an autopen, implying that it indicated an unwillingness to sign executive orders or potential illicit activities by aides controlling the device. He has called for those involved to be charged with “TREASON.” This narrative has gained traction among some conservatives who allege a cover-up of Biden’s mental and physical decline, despite the long-standing use of autopens by presidents.

Despite these claims, at least one user on Trump’s platform questioned the administration’s lack of concrete findings, asking, “IF IT’S EASY, WHY HASN’T YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOUND THESE CRIMINAL’S ALREADY.”