Trump reverses claim that Brown University shooting suspect was captured

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: US President Donald Trump sparked confusion and criticism online after issuing contradictory statements about the suspect involved in the deadly shooting at Brown University, prompting netizens to accuse him of being ill-informed as authorities stressed that the investigation is still ongoing.

The incident unfolded as law enforcement officials were actively responding to the shooting on Saturday, December 13, and had not confirmed any arrest.

Trump first weighed in on the tragedy via Truth Social shortly after reports emerged from Brown University’s Providence campus. In his initial post, he claimed the suspect had already been apprehended and suggested federal authorities were on the scene.

“I have been briefed on the shooting that took place at Brown University in Rhode Island. The FBI is on the scene. The suspect is in custody. God bless the victims and the families of the victims!” Trump wrote. The statement quickly circulated online, but it soon became clear that Trump’s claim did not align with what police were saying publicly at the time.

Donald Trump corrects himself after earlier post

Not long after his first message, Trump issued a follow-up post reversing his assertion and acknowledging that the suspect had not, in fact, been caught. In doing so, he appeared to place blame on law enforcement for the confusion.

“The Brown University Police reversed their previous statement,” Trump wrote. “The suspect is NOT in custody.”

The abrupt turnaround raised eyebrows, as Brown University police and Providence authorities had not announced that a suspect was in custody at any point. Instead, officials continued to urge caution and said the situation remained under investigation.

Social media erupts as netizens accuse Trump of misinformation

Trump’s back-to-back posts triggered immediate backlash on X, where users accused him of spreading misinformation during an active emergency and adding unnecessary confusion.

“Brown quickly retracted that message. Who is briefing you? Were you awake?” one user wrote. 

Another bluntly commented, “Trump made that statement, not the police.”

Another said, "Trump Reversed his former lie, about shooter , hopefully Knowone listened to this irresponsibility."

“Trump made that statement, not brown! He made a bad situation worse and then blamed the people doing things the right way. Kind of his whole MO this term,” one post read, echoing a sentiment shared widely across the platform.

Several users pointed out that premature or inaccurate information during unfolding crises can heighten public anxiety and undermine trust in official updates.

What did Providence police confirm about the suspect?

Providence Police later clarified what had occurred during the early stages of the response. According to officials, officers had briefly detained a person of interest near the scene but quickly determined that the individual had no involvement in the shooting.

Authorities said the person was initially “thought to be involved” based on proximity and circumstances but was later ruled out after further assessment. As of the latest update, no suspect is in custody, and the investigation remains active.

Police emphasized that they are continuing to follow leads and urged the public to rely on official law enforcement statements rather than speculation circulating online.

Confusion adds to scrutiny amid campus tragedy

The shooting at Brown University has already left the community shaken, with confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries reported earlier in the day.

Trump’s conflicting messages added another layer of controversy, drawing attention away from verified updates and fueling online debate.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.