Who are the ‘black rebels’?
The identity of the social media account known as ‘Black Rebel’, which sparked the 2024 presidential election conspiracy theory that Donald Trump ‘likes’, has been revealed to be Jason G. Palmer, who is white. “What everyone wants to be… ” Well, you know how that goes.
According to the Associated Press, Palmer previously operated an account on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. His profile included a photo of a black soldier and the tagline “I FOLLOW BACK TRUE PATRIOTS.”
The devious figure has amassed more than 300,000 followers and has pushed controversial claims against high-profile politicians such as Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The Associated Press reported that some of the account’s most salacious claims were even amplified by former President Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and their Republican allies in Congress.
This is very similar to the disclosure that the Spokane NAACP president is a blonde white woman named Rachel Dolezal.
False Claims and Russian Disinformation
In the final weeks leading up to the election, Black Insurrectionists have stepped up their false claims, some of which quickly went viral. Last month, the account posted what it claimed was an affidavit from an ABC News employee claiming Harris had been asked debate questions in advance.
ABC News strongly denied the comments.
The Associated Press reported that President Trump accepted the unfounded claim and said the following.
“I love that person.”
The account also posted a fabricated story accusing Walz of inappropriate behavior toward a student decades ago. U.S. intelligence confirmed this was a lie stemming from a Russian disinformation campaign.
It’s such a mess.
Suspicious Digital Trail
The AP tracked down Palmer’s account by cross-referencing personal information posted by black rebels with public records and interviews with individuals who knew Palmer.
A key clue came from a video posted in March. The video showed Palmer’s email address and the initials “JP” displayed in his web browser, linking him to the account. Palmer denied creating the account but admitted he owned the account before selling it earlier this year.
But he recently admitted to posting content, including an accusation against Waltz, claiming he worked as a “researcher” with wider connections.
“We did it with the big guys. “Fellow citizens.” Palmer said.
There are too many lies piling up.
Palmer’s Troubled Past
Palmer’s backstory is equally controversial. The Associated Press said Palmer has a long history of legal and financial troubles, including allegations of fraud, including unpaid taxes of more than $6.7 million. This is believed to be due to his past battle with drug addiction.
His former colleagues painted a picture of a man who lured others into failed business ventures, leaving behind a trail of unpaid debts and broken promises. Kathleen Albano, the widow of his former business partner, described her husband’s experience with Palmer.
“He owes me a huge debt. My husband was caught up in a lot of those deals,” Albano said.
She also claimed that Palmer had purchased a home from her and her husband, but then stopped making payments.
Courtroom Drama & Web of Lies
In addition to his checkered history, Palmer has been involved in several lawsuits related to fraudulent business practices. The Associated Press reported court records show a forensic expert determined Palmer used digital manipulation to forge signatures and notarizations on legal documents.
Despite his attempts to distance himself from the “black rebel” account, his digital and personal history is now exposing a pattern of fraud that will only add further fuel to this heated election season.