| Record | OBS-0890 |
|---|---|
| Category | Government/Cover-ups |
| Status | UNPROVEN |
| Summary | The 'deep state' theory claims that a shadowy network of government officials, intelligence agencies, and other elites secretly controls U.S. policy, undermining elected leaders. It gained popularity in the 2010s, especially among political conservatives. |
| Origin | The term 'deep state' originated in Turkey in the 1990s, but was adopted in the U.S. around 2016-2017, during the Trump presidency. |
| Claimed |
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| Evidence / consensus | There is no evidence of a coordinated, secret 'deep state' controlling the U.S. government. While there are career bureaucrats and intelligence agencies with their own interests, they are subject to oversight and do not operate as a unified conspiracy. The theory is often used as a political tool to discredit opponents. |
Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.