
The term "Presidents and Illuminati" refers to the persistent conspiracy theory that suggests a connection between U.S. presidents and the Illuminati, a secret society originally founded in 18th-century Bavaria. The Illuminati, or אילומינטי in Hebrew, Illuminaten in German, and Illuminati in Italian, was a real organization that aimed to promote rationalism and secularism, but it was disbanded in the late 1700s. Modern conspiracy theories often allege that the Illuminati has continued to operate in secret and has infiltrated the highest levels of government, including the U.S. presidency. These theories suggest that various presidents have been members or puppets of the Illuminati, manipulating global events to achieve hidden agendas. Despite the lack of credible evidence, these ideas persist in popular culture and conspiracy circles, often fueled by symbolism in presidential speeches, artwork, and other media. The term "Illuminati" has also been used more broadly to refer to any powerful, secretive group perceived to be controlling world events.