Supporters of former President Donald Trump have seized on a notable increase in Google searches for terms like “criminal defense lawyer” and “RICO law” in Washington, DC, interpreting this trend as a sign of fear among political elites in the nation’s capital. This surge in interest has been highlighted by various MAGA figures, who suggest that it indicates a looming threat of prosecution under Trump’s administration.
On February 16, 2025, the X account Libs of TikTok, which has over four million followers, shared a post claiming “PANIC IN DC” alongside screenshots from Google Trends showing spikes in searches for crime-related terms. The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 16,000 shares, 65,000 likes, and nearly 1.9 million views. Prominent MAGA voices, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the data reflects a state of panic among Washington insiders.
The claims arise amidst Trump’s efforts, in collaboration with tech mogul Elon Musk, to overhaul the federal bureaucracy with the aim of eliminating waste and corruption. Musk’s initiative, dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has resulted in significant layoffs across various government agencies. This has intensified beliefs among MAGA supporters regarding corruption within the federal government and the existence of a so-called "Deep State."
While the Google Trends data does indicate a rise in searches for terms such as “criminal defense lawyer” and “Swiss bank,” experts caution against jumping to conclusions based solely on this information. Mihaela Mihailescu, a researcher at the University of Bath, noted that the interpretation of these trends as evidence of widespread panic among corrupt officials is speculative and lacks concrete evidence. She emphasized that the searches could stem from various factors, including media coverage and general public curiosity.
Google Trends provides a relative measure of search popularity without revealing absolute numbers, making it difficult to ascertain the significance of the spikes. Wietze Beukema, a cyberthreat engineer, explained that while the tool can show trends over time, it does not offer a complete picture of search activity. This means that an increase in search interest does not necessarily correlate with an actual rise in criminal activity or fear among government officials.
As speculation continues to swirl around the implications of these search trends, it remains unclear what they truly signify. Some analysts suggest that the increase in searches could be attributed to a variety of influences, including media narratives and the public’s fascination with potential doomsday scenarios. In any case, the narrative being promoted by MAGA supporters reflects broader themes of distrust in governmental institutions and the belief in a hidden network operating within the federal bureaucracy.