Qanon on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAnon
QAnon (/kjuːəˈnɒn/) refers to conspiracy theories centered on Q, an online handle used on several image boards by a presumably American[1] pseudonymous individual or group of individuals[2][3][4] claiming to have access to classified information involving the Trump administration and its opponents in the United States, and detailing a supposed secret counter-coup against the alleged "deep state". The QAnon conspiracy theorists are also accusing numerous Hollywood actors and politicians of being pedophiles.[5][6]
The conspiracy theories, mainly popularized by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump under the names The Storm and The Great Awakening, has been widely characterized as "baseless",[7][8][9] "unhinged",[10][11] "evidence-free",[12] and a "deranged conspiracy cult".[13]
Origin
A person identifying as "Q Clearance Patriot" first appeared on the /pol/ board of 4chan on October 28, 2017, posting messages in a thread entitled "Calm Before the Storm",[1] which was a reference to Trump's cryptic description of a gathering of military leaders as "the calm before the storm".[1][14] The poster later moved to 8chan, citing alleged security concerns.[2]
The handle implied that the anonymous poster held Q clearance,[15][16] a United States Department of Energy security clearance required for access to Top Secret information about nuclear weapons and materials.[17]
False claims
QAnon's posting campaign has a history of false, baseless and unsubstantiated claims. For example, QAnon has claimed on multiple occasions that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is a puppet ruler installed by the Central Intelligence Agency.[18]
On February 16, 2018, QAnon falsely accused U.S. Representative and former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of hiring El Salvadorian gang MS-13 to murder DNC staffer Seth Rich.[14][19]