In a recent fundraising email and social media posts, former President Donald Trump has made baseless claims that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was ready to kill him. These outlandish remarks come amidst Trump's hush-money trial in New York and concerns of rising political violence around the upcoming presidential election.

Trump and his allies have long painted a picture of a patriotic Trump battling against anti-democratic deep-state adversaries. However, these exaggerations could potentially stoke anger among his supporters and give rise to conspiracy theories.

The fundraising email, signed with Trump's name, read, "You know they're just itching to do the unthinkable. Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger." Trump reiterated these claims on his social media platform, Truth Social, alleging that the DoJ had authorized the FBI to use deadly force during an investigation at his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022.

The allegations stem from a search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago, where plainclothes FBI agents were said to be looking for classified documents that Trump had supposedly refused to turn over to the government. Trump's legal team later cited a line from the search warrant, which included a policy statement regarding the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers of the DoJ. However, the full text of the policy clearly states that deadly force can only be used when there is a reasonable belief that it is necessary to protect the officer or another person from imminent danger of death or serious physical injury.

The FBI has clarified that the cited language is a standard policy statement and that no additional steps were taken beyond the norm during the search at Mar-a-Lago. The agency communicated with Secret Service agents present to ensure a smooth operation, and the raid was planned for a day when Trump was not at the estate.

Despite these facts, Trump's statements have ignited a frenzy among his supporters. Some individuals, including Christina Bobb, an attorney for the former president, and Paul Gosar, an Arizona congressman and staunch Trump ally, have reacted with hyperbole and conspiracy theories, suggesting that Trump's life was in danger and that President Biden had ordered the hit.

These sensational claims serve as part of a broader strategy employed by Trump and his allies in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. By redirecting attention towards alleged threats against Trump's life and casting his critics as enemies who threaten democracy, Trump aims to portray himself as the victim and deflect attention from his ongoing legal battles and controversial actions surrounding the 2020 election.

The Department of Justice has not responded to Trump's latest accusations, but legal experts and political analysts widely view them as baseless and an attempt to manipulate public opinion for political gain. The real focus should remain on the substantive issues surrounding Trump's legal challenges and their implications for the integrity of democracy.

With the 2024 presidential election looming, it remains to be seen how these tactics will shape the political landscape and influence public perception in the months to come.