The Firehose of Falsehood: How Lies Are Used as a Weapon

During the height of the 2016 election, researchers warned about a disturbing propaganda tactic known as the "firehose of falsehood." It’s a relentless flood of lies, conspiracies, and blatant falsehoods—so overwhelming that people struggle to keep up. But why lie so often, and why tell lies that are so obviously untrue?

A RAND Corporation report found that effective propaganda doesn’t need to be believable. Even obvious lies can shape public perception. The study, however, wasn’t about Donald Trump—it was about Russian propaganda. This raised an unsettling question: How can a powerful leader benefit from telling blatant, easily disproven lies?

The Strategy of Firehosing

Russian propaganda follows four key principles:

1. High volume and multichannel dissemination – Lies are spread through multiple sources, creating a false sense of credibility.

2. Repetition and continuity – The same lies are told over and over until they feel familiar and accepted.

3. No commitment to objective reality – The truth is irrelevant; falsehoods are used as tools.

4. No commitment to consistency – The narrative shifts as needed, contradicting previous statements without concern.

A striking example of this occurred in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian troops, known as "little green men," were clearly visible on TV. Yet, when asked, Putin flatly denied their existence. Weeks later, he reversed course, admitting, “Of course, we had our servicemen there.” No apology, no explanation—just a demonstration of power through deception.

Trump and the Firehose Effect

Though initially studied in the context of Russian propaganda, firehosing also applies to Trump’s communication style. He lies repeatedly, often contradicting himself, but the volume and frequency of his falsehoods create confusion. Fact-checking these lies feels like an endless battle—one that ultimately plays into the strategy itself.

Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen argues that firehosing isn’t about persuasion; it’s about asserting dominance over reality. When leaders tell obvious lies—denying troops in Crimea, claiming an election was stolen, or insisting they never mocked a disabled reporter—they aren’t just deceiving. They are demonstrating that they are unconstrained by facts, forcing others to engage with falsehoods on their terms.

The Goal: Undermining Truth Itself

Fact-checking seems like a logical response, but it often plays into the firehosing tactic. By forcing people to argue against the obvious, it creates exhaustion and disillusionment. The goal isn’t to convince people that lies are true—it’s to erode the very concept of truth, turning reality into a battlefield where power, not facts, determines what is "real."

As Trump once told his supporters:

"Just remember, what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening."

And as Putin bluntly put it:

"As to who is to be believed, you can trust no one."

In the end, firehosing isn’t just a propaganda tool—it’s a weapon against reality itself.