Jade Helm 15 conspiracy theories

The joint exercise in realistic military training (RMT) known as Jade Helm 15The military has not defined "Jade Helm 15" for the public as of January 2016. The acronym JADE stands for "Joint Assistant for Deployment and Execution," "a knowledge-based mixed-initiative system that supports force deployment planning and management. JADE uses case-based and generative planning methods to support the development of large-scale, complex deployment plans in minimal time." [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302004353/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/398021.pdf Joint Assistant for Development and Execution (JADE)], Abstract, p. 1. Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved January 8, 2016. was sponsored by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM){{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3axduuybL0jdjZQUjhsSmJsZTA/edit |title=Request to Conduct Realistic Military Training (RMT) Jade Helm 15 |author= |date= |publisher=United States Army Special Operations Command |access-date=January 8, 2016}} and involved the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) with other U.S. military units in multiple states, including Texas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Utah. Its stated purpose was "to improve the Special Operations Forces' capability as part of the National Security Strategy". It was coordinated and led from Eglin Air Force Base, an Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) base in northwest Florida.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/07/08/jade-helm-15-heavily-scrutinized-military-exercise-to-open-without-media-access/ |author=Lamothe, Dan |title=Jade Helm 15, heavily scrutinized military exercise, to open without media access |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2016}}

Approximately 1,200 troops were engaged over the course of the exercise. They were "mainly Army Green Berets, but also a small group of Navy SEALs and Air Force special operations troops as well as conventional Army infantry",{{Cite news | title = Pentagon claims it won't be taking over Texas | last = Starr | first = Barbara | publisher = CNN | date = May 4, 2015 | access-date = May 6, 2015 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/04/politics/pentagon-texas-jade-helm-15-takeover/ }} although the initial request to state officials from USSOCOM listed elements of the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), Marine expeditionary units, the 82nd Airborne Division, and "interagency partners" as participants. Troops engaging in the exercise assumed the roles of either occupying or resistance forces.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/us/in-texas-a-military-exercise-is-met-by-some-with-suspicion.html |title=As Jade Helm 15 Military Exercise Begins, Texans Keep Watch 'Just in Case' |last1=Fernandez |first1=Manny |date=July 15, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 8, 2016 |quote=Local officials who have been briefed on the exercise say it is modeled after the French resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. It calls for some military personnel to play the role of the occupiers and for others to work undetected as part of the resistance.}} Most locations were in sparsely populated arid regions near small towns. Some participants wore civilian attire and drove civilian vehicles.{{cite news|title=As Jade Helm 15 Military Exercise Begins, Texans Keep Watch 'Just in Case'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/us/in-texas-a-military-exercise-is-met-by-some-with-suspicion.html|access-date=July 16, 2015|author=Manny Fernandez|work=The New York Times|date=July 15, 2015|quote= ... some Jade Helm 15 participants "may conduct suspicious activities" as part of their training and others "will be wearing civilian attire and driving civilian vehicles."}} Maps of the exercise included areas of the United States such as Colorado and California where no actual operations were planned.{{Cite news

|title = Why Operation Jade Helm 15 is freaking out the Internet – and why it shouldn't be

|last = Lamothe | first = Dan| newspaper =The Washington Post| date = March 31, 2015

|access-date = May 1, 2015| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/03/31/why-the-new-special-operations-exercise-freaking-out-the-internet-is-no-big-deal/}} The locations in Texas include Bastrop, Smithville, Big Spring, Caddo Lake, Caldwell, Christoval, College Station, Dell City, Eldorado, Goliad, Junction, Leakey, Menard, Mountain Home, San Angelo, San Antonio, and Victoria.{{Cite web

|title = Covert warfare coming to Texas sparks some fears of federal takeover

|last = Baddour| first = Dylan| work =Houston Chronicle| date = March 25, 2015

|access-date = June 7, 2015| url = http://www.chron.com/news/article/Covert-warfare-comming-to-Texas-6157685.php}}

USSOCOM claimed that "the size and scope of Jade Helm sets this one apart" from previous training exercises,{{Cite web| title = 150324-03 Press Release: Exercise readies SOF for threats abroad| author = USASOC News Service| publisher = United States Army Special Operations Command| date = March 24, 2015| access-date = May 1, 2015| url = http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2015/March/150324-03.html| archive-date = October 15, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181015083003/http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2015/March/150324-03.html| url-status = dead}} such as Derna Bridge or Robin Sage. In Bastrop, 60 soldiers took part, including the presence of two Humvee vehicles and a "water buffalo" water tank. Private land offered by residents would be used for the exercise, though he noted that they would not be paid for the land or receive a tax break of any kind.{{Cite web | title = Gov. Abbott directs Texas Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 operations | last = Beausoleil | first = Sophia | publisher = KXAN.com | date = April 27, 2015 | access-date = May 6, 2015 | url = http://kxan.com/2015/04/27/bastrop-residents-question-jade-helm-15-operation/ | archive-date = September 22, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150922045432/http://kxan.com/2015/04/27/bastrop-residents-question-jade-helm-15-operation/ | url-status = dead }} Lastoria also claimed that $150,000 in revenue would be brought to the area because of food, fuel, and shopping.

Journalists were not allowed to embed in the operation, due to the "scope and scale" of the training exercise.{{cite news|author=Jahner, Kyle|title=Jade Helm 15: Controversial military exercise starts Wednesday|url=http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/14/jade-helm-starts-army-special-operations-exercise/30144561/|newspaper=Army Times|date=July 15, 2015}}

File:Jade helm 15.jpeg|date=May 5, 2015}} depicting the US military plans during the Jade Helm 15 exercise]]

The conspiracy theories seem to emanate from the map shown here from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command which divides the region into four colors, with two "hostile" states, two "permissive" states, two states leaning one way or the other, and California divided.{{cite news|title=Operation Jade Helm 15: Military training exercise or martial law? Ask the Internet|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-ff-na-jade-helm-20150508-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517165341/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-ff-na-jade-helm-20150508-story.html|archive-date=May 17, 2015|date=May 8, 2015}} Jim Shea of the Hartford Courant wrote that the conspiracy theories included: a "psychological operation aimed at getting people used to seeing military forces on the streets" so that they do not realize when an invasion actually takes place; an international operation aimed to seize people's firearms; recently closed Walmarts used by the military to "stockpile supplies for Chinese troops who will be arriving to disarm Americans"; and a military plan to "round up political dissidents" and "remove key political figures" who may be against the imposition of martial law.{{cite web|last1=Shea|first1=Jim|title=Thank You Texas and Good Luck with the Invasion|url=http://www.courant.com/features/too-shea/hc-shea-weakinreview-0517-20150517-column.html|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222728/http://www.courant.com/features/too-shea/hc-shea-weakinreview-0517-20150517-column.html|url-status=dead}} Other theories have described Jade Helm 15 as a "secret plot" to impose martial law, confiscate firearms, invade Texas, and institute "total population control."{{cite news|last1=Fernadez|first1=Manny|title=In Texas, a Military Exercise Is Met by Some With Suspicion|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/us/in-texas-a-military-exercise-is-met-by-some-with-suspicion.html|access-date=July 16, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=July 14, 2015}}

The conspiracy theories also included concern about the name of the exercise, with the "jade" possibly referring to China,{{cite magazine|author=Davidson, Amy|title=Who Is Threatening Texas? – Unclear Dangers|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/18/unclear-dangers|magazine=The New Yorker|date=May 18, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Dale, Daniel|title=Texas invasion? U.S. army fights 'Jade Helm' conspiracy theories|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/05/06/texas-invasion-us-army-fights-jade-helm-conspiracy-theories.html|newspaper=Toronto Star Newspapers|date=May 6, 2015}} or possibly an acronym for artificial intelligence developed by the U.S. military.{{cite news|author=Saal, Mark|title=Jade Helm: What if conspiracy theorists finally got it right?|url=http://www.standard.net/Standard-Deviations/2015/07/18/Jade-Helm-15-What-if-they-re-right.html|newspaper=Standard-Examiner|publisher=Ogden Publishing Corporation|date=July 18, 2015|access-date=July 25, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105950/http://www.standard.net/Standard-Deviations/2015/07/18/Jade-Helm-15-What-if-they-re-right.html|url-status=dead}} Conspiracy theorist and Texas radio host Alex Jones said that "helm" is an acronym for "Homeland Eradication of Local Militants".

Eric Johnston formed a "Counter Jade Helm" group to monitor the training operations and to practice "counterinsurgency" tactics and intelligence-gathering.{{Cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |date=2015-09-16 |title=Jade Helm Military Exercise Ends, With Little Fanfare and Less Paranoia |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/17/us/jade-helm-military-exercise-ends-with-little-fanfare-and-less-paranoia.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |date=July 15, 2015 |title=Civilians Begin Shadowing 'Jade Helm' War Exercise in Texas |newspaper=The New York Times |type=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/15/us/ap-us-military-training-texas.html}} In August, three men were arrested by the FBI and accused of plotting to "resist Jade Helm" with weapons and home-made bombs. Two of the three men reportedly told the owner of a military surplus store that they believed Jade Helm "is a cover for the imposition of martial law in the United States".

There was some tie-in between the Jade Helm 15 exercise and a resurgence of the FEMA camps conspiracy theory with the exercise raising fear that it was a dry run for forcing citizens into internment camps.{{cite web |last1=Reinhard |first1=Chelsea |title=County Denounces Conspiracy Theories, Approves Jade Helm 15 |url=https://sanangelolive.com/news/county/2015-05-07/county-denounces-conspiracy-theories-approves-jade-helm-15 |website=sanangelolive.com |access-date=6 June 2018}} These fears were demonstrated to have been unfounded when the exercise was completed and no one was placed into a camp.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Morgan |title=In Bastrop, Jade Helm Begins With a Whimper |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/07/15/bastrop-jade-helm-begins/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |publisher=Texas Tribune |date=15 July 2015}}

Some conspiracy theorists have connected the Jade Helm 15 military exercise with an apocalypse caused by a comet or asteroid striking the Earth.{{cite news|author=Tamblyn, Thomas|title=Conspiracy Theorists Claim Massive 'Jade Helm' Military Exercise Is Preparation For The Apocalypse|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/08/conspiracy-theorists-claim-massive-jade-helm-military-exercise-is-preparation-for-the-apocalypse_n_7532874.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=June 8, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Austin, Jon|title=US military secretly preparing for asteroid that will wipe out mankind in September|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/583002/US-military-secretly-preparing-asteroid-wipe-out-mankind-September-Jade-Helm|newspaper=Daily Express|date=June 8, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Dubuis, Anna|title=America 'preparing for asteroid impact with massive army training exercise to stop apocalypse riots'|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/america-preparing-asteroid-impact-massive-5846883|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=June 8, 2015}} The Jade Helm 15 military exercise had an ending date of September 15, 2015, which is the same month identified by some conspiracy theorists for the catastrophic impact of a comet or asteroid.{{cite news|title=Asteroid Impact Apocalypse 2015: Mass Anxiety As Conspiracy Theorists Predict Catastrophe|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/1813936/asteroid-impact-apocalypse-2015-mass-anxiety-as-conspiracy-theorists-predict-catastrophe/|publisher=The Inquisitr News|date=February 4, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Nelson, Sara C.|title=Asteroid Apocalypse Spells End Of The World In September 2015|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/08/asteroid-apocalypse-spells-end-world-september-2015_n_7533130.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=June 8, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Wells, Andy|title=The World Is Going To End In September (Apparently)|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/the-world-is-going-to-end-in-september--apparently-082010971.html#oE4A9RB|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=June 8, 2015}}

The conspiracy theorists claim that Jade Helm 15 is a dress rehearsal for the imposition of martial law{{cite news|title=2.5-Mile-Wide Comet Headed Toward Earth: Conspiracy Theorists Spread Doomsday Mass Hysteria|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2054665/2-5-mile-wide-comet-headed-toward-earth-conspiracy-theorists-spread-doomsday-mass-hysteria/|publisher=The Inquisitr News|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=June 15, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050801/http://www.inquisitr.com/2054665/2-5-mile-wide-comet-headed-toward-earth-conspiracy-theorists-spread-doomsday-mass-hysteria/|url-status=dead}} which would be implemented in the event of a catastrophe of this level of severity. However, the NASA Near Earth Object Program publishes the Sentry Risk Table, which is a list that identifies such threats, and the list does not include any object with a high Torino Scale number (a measure of the severity of the threat) for 2015.{{cite web|title=Sentry Risk Table |url=http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/ |publisher=NASA – Near Earth Object Program |access-date=June 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231154154/http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/ |archive-date=December 31, 2014 }} Also, a NASA spokesperson said, "NASA knows of no asteroid or comet currently on a collision course with Earth". Some conspiracy theorists claimed that the object has been tracked for years.{{Cite web |last=Vago |first=Mike |date=2019-11-03 |title=In 2015, conspiracy nuts were convinced the U.S. was going to invade Texas |url=https://www.avclub.com/in-2015-conspiracy-nuts-were-convinced-the-u-s-was-go-1839431997 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}} They asserted that the object name is known but its published coordinates and orbit information are incorrect, and the threat is not publicly listed because of the belief that panic would ensue.{{cite news|author=Duclos, Susan|title=E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) Coming? Asteroid Warning, Govt Preps Underground Bases & "Extinction Protocol"|url=http://allnewspipeline.com/ELE_Coming_Asteroid_Warning_Govt.php|publisher=All News Pipeline|date=January 4, 2015}} The apocalypse failed to happen on September 15, 2015.{{cite news|author=cosbourn|title=ISS Daily Summary Report – 09/15/15|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2015/09/15/|publisher=NASA|date=September 15, 2015}}

The Austin American-Statesman newspaper noted that after plans and maps of the exercise were made public, there was an "explosion of outrage on social media after the release of the map, which labeled Texas, Utah and the southern tip of California as 'hostile.'"{{Cite web| title = Texas labeled as 'hostile' territory in Army's Jade Helm training| last = Walsh|first = Sean Collins| work = Austin American Statesman

|date = April 28, 2015| access-date = May 1, 2015| url = http://www.statesman.com/news/news/national/bastrop-critics-on-armys-jade-helm-training-come-a/nk454/}} There was also speculation that shuttered Walmart stores would be used for "guerrilla-warfare staging areas and FEMA processing camps",{{Cite web| title = Texas Governor Deploys State Guard To Stave Off Obama Takeover| last = Goodwyn | first = Wade|publisher = NPR|author-link=Wade Goodwyn|date = May 2, 2015| access-date = May 4, 2015| url = https://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2015/05/02/403865824/texas-governor-deploys-state-guard-to-stave-off-obama-takeover}} though this theory was debunked by the website Snopes.Mikkelson, Barbara (April 23, 2015). [http://www.snopes.com/politics/conspiracy/walmartclosures.asp "Walmartyrs to the Cause"]. Snopes.

A survey of registered Republicans by Public Policy Polling in May 2015,{{cite web|title=Poll Press release|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_National_51315.pdf|publisher=Public Policy Polling|access-date=May 14, 2015}} found that 32% thought that "the Government is trying to take over Texas", and that half of all Tea Party supporters were concerned about an imminent Texas invasion.{{cite web|title=Majority of likely GOP primary voters could believe Operation Jade Helm 15 is probably a federal invasion of Texas|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/05/14/majority_of_likely_gop_primary_voters_believe_operation_jade_helm_15_is_a_federal_invasion_of_texas/|work=Salon|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=May 14, 2015}}

Greg Capers, sheriff of San Jacinto County, published a letter in the Cleveland Advocate (of Cleveland, Texas), in response to numerous phone calls from citizens, in which he criticized alternative news sources for spreading inaccurate information about the exercise, and encouraged citizens to "utilize legitimate mainstream news sources" for those interested in accurate information.{{cite web|title=Sheriff Capers issues letter to community regarding Operation Jade Helm|date=May 15, 2015|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/sheriff-capers-issues-letter-to-community-regarding-operation-jade-helm/article_e2c798c4-7d16-5f43-b2bd-61999b79acd6.html|publisher=Cleveland Advocate|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621214755/http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/sheriff-capers-issues-letter-to-community-regarding-operation-jade-helm/article_e2c798c4-7d16-5f43-b2bd-61999b79acd6.html|url-status=dead}}

On April 28, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor the operation, writing: "During the training operation, it is important that Texans know [that] their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed", and requesting "regular updates on the progress and safety of the Operation".{{cite web|title=Abbott's Letter Elevates Jade Helm 15 Concerns|last=Svitek |first=Patrick|work=The Texas Tribune|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=May 1, 2015|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/30/abbotts-letter-puts-jade-helm-national-stage/}} Abbott received significant bipartisan criticism. One critic was Republican state representative Todd Smith, who said Abbott was "pandering to idiots" at taxpayers' expense.{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Cassandra Pollock and Alex |date=2018-05-03 |title=Hysteria over Jade Helm exercise in Texas was fueled by Russians, former CIA director says |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/05/03/hysteria-over-jade-helm-exercise-texas-was-fueled-russians-former-cia-/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} Former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden said that the conspiracy theory "got so much traction that the governor of Texas had to call up the National Guard". The Texas Observer disagreed, stating that "the issue got hardly any traction at all outside the fringe until Abbott gave it his seal of approval".{{Cite web |last=Hooks |first=Christopher |date=2018-05-04 |title=The Jade Helm Fiasco Says More About Texas Than it Does Russia |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/jade-helm-fiasco-says-more-about-texas-than-russia/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=The Texas Observer |language=en-US}}

On May 2, 2015, Texas senator Ted Cruz told the South Carolina Republican Party's annual convention that he had "reached out to the Pentagon to inquire about this exercise."

We are assured [that] it is a military training exercise. I have no reason to doubt those assurances, but I understand the reason for concern and uncertainty, because when the federal government has not demonstrated itself to be trustworthy in this administration, the natural consequence is that many citizens don't trust what it is saying.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Says He Has Asked the Pentagon for Answers on Jade Helm 15|last=Weigel |first=David|publisher=Bloomberg Politics|date=May 2, 2015|access-date=May 4, 2015|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-02/ted-cruz-says-he-has-asked-the-pentagon-for-answers-on-jade-helm-15}}{{cite news |title=Worried about Operation Jade Helm? Texas Republicans Hear You |last=Knowles |first=David |publisher=Bloomberg |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-06/4-texas-republicans-sympathetic-over-jade-helm-15-fears}}

U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert said in a statement on May 5, 2015, that his "office has been inundated with calls referring to the Jade Helm 15 military exercise" with concerns that the U.S. Army is preparing for "modern-day martial law". He alluded to a notorious remark made by Barack Obama, who claimed that Pennsylvanians were "bitter" and "cling to guns or religion":{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/us/politics/11web2-seelye.html|title=Troubling Signs for Obama in Pennsylvania |first=Katharine Q.|last=Seelye|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 11, 2008}} "I was rather appalled that the hostile areas amazingly have a Republican majority, 'cling to their guns and religion,' and believe in the sanctity of the United States Constitution". He asserted that "the map of the exercise needs to change, the names on the map need to change, and the tone of the exercise needs to be completely revamped so the federal government is not intentionally practicing war against its own states."{{cite web |title=Louie Gohmert Gets Why Some Texans Are Worried About a Military Takeover |last=Berman |first=Matt |work=National Journal |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/louie-gohmert-gets-why-some-texans-are-worried-about-a-military-takeover-20150505 }}{{cite web |title=Gohmert Statement on Jade Helm Exercises |last=Gohmert |first=Louie |publisher=gohmert.house.gov |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url=http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398216 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004110408/https://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398216 |url-status=dead }}

In a November 2015 GQ interview, President Obama described Jade Helm as "his favorite conspiracy theory".{{cite news|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/national/article/Obama-picks-Jade-Helm-as-his-favorite-6644618.php|title=Obama picks 'Jade Helm' as his favorite conspiracy theory about his presidency|author=Matt Levin|date=November 19, 2015}}

One of the first versions of the conspiracy appeared in All News Pipeline. It was later spread by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones,{{Cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=2021-11-25 |title=Analysis {{!}} The Jade Helm conspiracy theory, explained |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/05/06/how-obamas-hostile-takeover-of-the-american-southwest-a-k-a-jade-helm-will-impact-2016/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |issn=0190-8286}} who said on his Infowars radio program and website that the federal government was preparing to invade Texas.{{cite news |last=Viser |first=Matt |date=May 26, 2015 |title=Suspicion of US government reaches a new level in Texas |newspaper=Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/05/25/divided-america-theories-military-takeover-texas-find-legitimacy-political-mainstream/KSScgClOewjIXXisqkF5IM/story.html |access-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420113511/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/05/25/divided-america-theories-military-takeover-texas-find-legitimacy-political-mainstream/KSScgClOewjIXXisqkF5IM/story.html |archive-date=April 20, 2017}} "They're going to practice breaking into things and stuff. This is going to be hellish," Jones said. "Now this is just a cover for deploying the military on the streets ... This is an invasion ... in preparation for the financial collapse and maybe even Obama not leaving office." The conspiracy theories also appeared repeatedly on the conservative Drudge Report website.

After Abbott's response, Dallas Morning News columnist Jacquielynn Floyd wrote a column titled, "Abbott should counter, not cater to, Texans' crazy Jade Helm fears," noting that Abbott's "response to this nut-studded fruitcake of fear was unfortunate."{{cite web |last=Floyd |first=Jacquielynn |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Floyd: Abbott should counter, not cater to, Texans' crazy Jade Helm fears |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/jacquielynn-floyd/20150430-floyd-to-ease-takeover-fears-abbott-needs-to-call-crazy-what-it-is.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502232355/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/jacquielynn-floyd/20150430-floyd-to-ease-takeover-fears-abbott-needs-to-call-crazy-what-it-is.ece |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |work=Dallas Morning News}} On April 29, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest addressed the concerns of critics in the regular press briefing, saying, "I have no idea what he's thinking," regarding Abbott's letter to the Texas Guard. "In no way will the constitutional rights or civil liberties of any American citizen be infringed upon while this exercise is being conducted."{{cite news|title=Whoa, If True: 'Operation Jade Helm 15' Lays Groundwork for Martial Law|last=Knowles |first=David|publisher=Bloomberg Politics|date=April 29, 2015|access-date=May 1, 2015|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/whoa-if-true-operation-jade-helm-15-lays-groundwork-for-martial-law}}{{cite web|title=White House On A Possible Military Takeover Of Texas: Um, No|last=Thompson |first=Catherine|work=Talking Points Memo|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=May 1, 2015

|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/white-house-texas-military-takeover}}

The New York Times said that "numerous Republican elected officials in Texas have publicly embraced the ideology, conspiracy theories and anti-Obama sentiments of the far right", and reported that critics of Abbott pointed to the "disproportionate influence" of far-right activists over Republican primaries in the state.

Comedian Jon Stewart addressed the debate around the exercises in a segment on The Daily Show on May 4 called "Fear and Absent Danger", noting that previous military exercises before Obama's presidency had not raised similar concerns among conspiracy theorists and then-governor Rick Perry.{{cite news |title=Watch Jon Stewart rip reaction to Jade Helm 15, the military exercise spawning conspiracy theories |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/05/05/watch-jon-stewart-rip-reaction-to-jade-helm-15-the-military-exercise-spawning-conspiracy-theories/}}{{cite web |title='Daily Show' makes a mockery of 'Lone Star lunatics' and Jade Helm 15 |work=All Ablog Austin |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url=http://austin.blog.statesman.com/2015/05/05/daily-show-makes-a-manhattan-mockery-of-lone-star-lunatics-over-jade-helm-15/ |archive-date=May 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507181053/http://austin.blog.statesman.com/2015/05/05/daily-show-makes-a-manhattan-mockery-of-lone-star-lunatics-over-jade-helm-15/ |url-status=dead }}

A survey by Public Policy Polling between May 7 and May 10, 2015, found that 32% of 685 Republican primary voters believed "the government is trying to take over Texas", 40% believed "the government is not trying to take over Texas" and 28% were "unsure".{{cite web|title=Many GOP voters buy into 'Jade Helm' conspiracy theory|website=MSNBC|date=May 14, 2015 |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/many-gop-voters-buy-jade-helm-conspiracy-theory|access-date=September 15, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PPP_Release_National_51315.pdf|title='Walker Leads Tightly Clustered GOP Field, Clinton Up Big Nationally', by Public Policy Polling}}

Clint Watts and two others in the FBI began to notice Russian disinformation campaigns starting in April 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://wtop.com/j-j-green-national/2017/09/anatomy-russian-attack-first-signs/slide/1/|title=Anatomy of a Russian attack: First signs of the Kremlin's attempt to influence the 2016 election|last=Green|first=J. J.|date=2017-09-18|work=WTOP|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}} Watts said that Russian-driven efforts to spread misinformation were involved with Jade Helm 15. In 2017, Facebook shut down a page called "Heart of Texas" which was found to be associated with a Russian company promoting disinformation, including promoting the Jade Helm conspiracy.{{Cite news|url=https://extranewsfeed.com/how-russia-created-the-most-popular-texas-secession-page-on-facebook-fd4dfd05ee5c|title=How Russia Created the Most Popular Texas Secession Page on Facebook|last=Michel|first=Casey|date=2017-09-07|work=Extra Newsfeed|access-date=2018-05-03}}

On May 3, 2018, The Texas Tribune reported that Michael Hayden, a former director of the CIA and NSA said that the "hysteria" surrounding the training exercise "was fueled by Russians wanting to dominate 'the information space.'"{{Cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/05/03/hysteria-over-jade-helm-exercise-texas-was-fueled-russians-former-cia-/|title=Hysteria over Jade Helm exercise in Texas was fueled by Russians, former CIA director says|last1=Pollock|first1=Cassandra|date=2018-05-03|work=The Texas Tribune|access-date=2018-05-03|last2=Samuels|first2=Alex|language=en}} Hayden said that Russian bots were used to spread misinformation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/05/03/former-cia-director-says-russians-spread-misinformation-jade-helm|title=Russians spread misinformation on Jade Helm military exercise in Texas, former CIA director says|last=Barragan|first=James|date=2018-05-03|work=Dallas News|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en}}

The Texas Observer{{'s}} Christopher Hooks acknowledged the involvement of Russian bots but argued that blaming them for the controversy was an inversion of cause-and-effect, and that "Russian trolls simply echoed existing dysfunctions in American politics" rather than causing them. Hooks said that the problem was the paranoia and fear present in Texas politics, and blamed Texas politicians, including Governor Abbott, who cater to this conspiratorial fringe.

• Operation Gotham Shield

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Skeptoid | id=4469 | number=469 | title= Jade Helm 15| date= June 2, 2015|first=Blake |last=Smith| quote= | access-date=}}

{{Conspiracy theories}}

Category:Alex Jones

Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States

Category:Conspiracy theories regarding Barack Obama

Category:2015 in the United States

Category:Military in Texas