Online conspiracy circles galvanize to proclaim Baltimore bridge collapse a ‘black swan event’

The phrase, which conspiracy theorists use to describe public distractions from nefarious plots, was trending online following the collision

• Baltimore bridge collapse – latest updates

Far-right commentators have declared Tuesday’s dramatic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge a “black swan event,” a niche phrase that’s recently captured the imaginations of “deep state” conspiracy theorists.

“Nothing is safe,” wrote manosphere influencer Andrew Tate on X, about six hours after a container ship collided with the bridge. “Black Swan Event imminent.”