Man Who Self-Immolated Near Trump Trial Was Anti-Fascist, Warned Of "World Coup" And Wanted To Start "F*cking Revolution"
Update (1710ET): 37-year-old Max Azzarello has been identified as the man who set himself on fire near the NYC courthouse where Donald Trump's 'hush money' trial is taking place. He is in critical condition in a burn unit, police said Friday.
Before setting himself on fire, Azzarello dropped a stack of pamphlets that led people to the "Ponzi Papers" substack - in which he writes: "My name is Max Azzarello, and I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan."
Azzarello claims that a totalitarian conspiracy is in play, orchestrated by the U.S. government and its allies, aiming to impose a fascist world order.
This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery:
We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup.
These claims sound like fantastical conspiracy theory, but they are not. They are proof of conspiracy. If you investigate this mountain of research, you will prove them too. If you learn a great deal about Ponzi schemes, you will discover that our life is a lie. If you follow this story and the links below, you will discover the rotten truth of ‘post-truth America’. You will learn the scariest and stupidest story in world history. And you will realize that we are all in a desperate state of emergency that requires your action.
To my friends and family, witnesses and first responders, I deeply apologize for inflicting this pain upon you. But I assure you it is a drop in the bucket compared to what our government intends to inflict.
Because these words are true, this is an act of revolution. -The Ponzi Papers
Azzarello's manifesto focuses on the financial sector - particularly around recent banking crises and the role of cryptocurrencies. He suggests that the Silicon Valley Bank run, which was linked to Peter Thiel's actions and the subsequent collapse of Silvergate Bank, was no accident but part of a broader scheme involving cryptocurrencies as a global Ponzi scheme. He claims that cryptocurrencies were designed to destabilize the economy, implicating major corporations and elites in facilitating this financial upheaval. This scheme, he argues, has contributed to global inflation and is poised to cause even greater economic disruption.
He then expands to politics, alleging that that U.S. government has devolved into a 'secret kleptocracy,' pointing to bipartisan manipulation. According to Azzarello, the government perpetuates division and crisis to maintain control and distract from its exploitative operations. This, he asserts, leads inevitably towards a fascist state unless urgently addressed.
Lastly, he suggests that pop culture such as The Simpsons was designed to normalize dysfunction and distract from critical issues - and that the media is used by the elites in order to manipulate public perception and maintain the status quo that suppresses collective action against systemic injustices.
His solution? A revolution (and, of course, setting himself on fire):
Azzarello was reportedly active in the Anarcho-Communist forum on Reddit,
I've scraped Max Azzarello's Reddit history.
— Reddit Lies (@reddit_lies) April 19, 2024
Max stated on Reddit he was an Anarcho-Communist. https://t.co/lGYppf7IOP pic.twitter.com/Qe3P9hoZuO
He also took a photograph with former President Bill Clinton.
Here is Max Azzarello (the guy who lit himself on fire) with Bill Clinton. Just gonna drop this here... pic.twitter.com/DZcbRhaqCG
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2024
And went on a rant against Donald Trump, who he claims is "with Hillary" (and Biden) in the scheming department.
That’s the self emulation man’s sign, if anyone has doubts. pic.twitter.com/sQOQiEhwIm
— 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠 (@chiIIum) April 19, 2024
Max Azzarello, the man who lit himself on fire outside the Trump trial, wrote this unhinged rant against Donald Trump. He suffered from serious TDS.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2024
TDS can be very harmful and deadly! pic.twitter.com/I9GFT5jmSc
More:
Here’s his Instagram https://t.co/X9Adwjvq2A pic.twitter.com/1Rm1R27Ple
— 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠 (@chiIIum) April 19, 2024
This truck allegedly belongs to Max Azzarello, the guy who just lit himself on fire in NYC.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2024
It just keeps getting crazier. pic.twitter.com/3xZMgShdsh
* * *
Update (1440ET):
"Latest: A man lit himself on fire outside courthouse where Trump trial underway, NYPD officials brief within hour. CNN team on the ground observed one of the flyers - it said "NYU is a mob front" and had various allegations of wrongdoings against the school," reports CNN's Jim Sciutto.
Latest: A man lit himself on fire outside courthouse where Trump trial underway, NYPD officials brief within hour. CNN team on the ground observed one of the flyers - it said "NYU is a mob front" and had various allegations of wrongdoings against the school.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 19, 2024
* * *
A disturbing video has surfaced on X showing a man setting himself on fire outside the courthouse in Midtown Manhattan where former President Trump's trial is taking place.
CNN is reporting:
The man walked into the park across the street from the courthouse, throwing flyers into the air, a senior law enforcement official told CNN. He then pulled something out of a backpack — it was not immediately clear what the item was — and lit himself on fire, the official said.
The media outlet continued:
Investigators are now fanning out to collect the flyers the unknown man threw into the air, another senior law enforcement official. A CNN team on the ground observed one of the flyers. It said "NYU is a mob front" and had various allegations of wrongdoings against the school.
The video is shocking.
BREAKING: A man just set himself on fire outside the Trump trial in New York City.pic.twitter.com/3Lg3amY08z
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2024
What’s left of the man who set himself on fire in front of the NYC courthouse. pic.twitter.com/LDlCfnMNum
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) April 19, 2024
Why did a CNN reporter oddly declare that there was an active shooter?
CNN reporter excitedly narrates a man burning himself to death like she’s Jim Nantz calling a touchdown in a playoff game
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) April 19, 2024
pic.twitter.com/sDJW4CXiYn
On X, Elon Musk asked: "Was he protesting against the trial or for it?"
Was he protesting against the trial or for it?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2024
"It seems like Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting out of control," X account Planet Of Memes said.
It seems like Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting out of control.
— Planet Of Memes (@PlanetOfMemes) April 19, 2024
There is the possibility the man could be protesting the Israel-Hamas war as protests have flared up nationwide—still no official report on why the man decided to light himself on fire.
*Developing...