The Leader of the QAnon Conspiracy Theory Returns

The person behind the conspiracy theory reappeared after more than a year of being out of the public eye.

The figure, who is known only as Q, posted for the first time in over a year on the anonymous message board on Friday. The post asked if we should play the game again. The account that posted had a unique name.

The posts surprised researchers and signaled the return of a figure whose conspiracy theories about an imaginary ring of elite sex traffickers marshaled support for then- President Donald J. Trump. As followers speculated about the meaning of Q's return, message boards and Telegram channels devoted to Qanon lit up.

A large number of Trump supporters were immediately attracted to the QAnon conspiracy theory. A series of messages was published by Q. Q was thought to be involved in the Trump administration or the military.

There was an attack on the Capitol in January. Some people wore T-shirts with the words "Q sent me" written on them. A majority of Americans believed in the conspiracy theory.

None of Q's most gruesome and fanciful predictions about Mr. Trump would come true when President Biden took office. After Mr. Trump lost in 2020, Q stopped posting.

While the community was limping along in the months since Q disappeared, it seemed to bristle again this past week with a series of Supreme Court rulings. The decision signaled a turning point for the country that could make Q's predictions come true.

"Social and cultural instability has been a hallmark of QAnon for a long time," said Bond Benton, an associate professor at Montclair State University. The fear that people have about the future is amplified by this.

The account replied that it had to be done this way when the anonymous user asked why Q was gone for so long.

The account asked if you were ready to serve your country again. Don't forget your oath.

The return comes at an important time for Ron Watkins, a 30-something computer programmer and a former administrator of 8kun who is widely believed to be the culprit behind Q.

Mr Watkins is running for Congress in Arizona. He will lose the race when the primary is held in August because he didn't raise enough money and gave a poor performance in the debate.

Mr Watkins did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

While cautioning against ascribing too much logic to Q's return now, Peterka-Benton suggested that the person's goal is to see the world burn.

She thinks the person doesn't have a plan. They like the fact that they have so much power.