FACT CHECK: Is the viral Simpsons Trump death 90-second video real? The truth behind the 'unaired episode'

A viral 90-second clip claiming "The Simpsons" predicted Donald Trump’s death is a confirmed hoax. Know how AI and 4chan imagery were used to create the fake "unaired episode" that has misled millions on TikTok and X.

US President Donald Trump monitors military strikes on Iran. (Photo: IANS)

A viral video circulating online, including through the popular apps TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), has sparked a whirlwind of speculation claiming the popular animated television series "The Simpsons" has foretold the death of the former President of the United States, Donald Trump. However, experts and the makers of the series have confirmed the "unaired footage" circulating online is a sophisticated hoax, allegedly created through Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Anatomy of a hoax: The 'silenced' newspaper

The viral video, which lasts for 90 seconds, features an animated version of the former U.S. President, depicted sitting in a high-end office surrounded by reams of paper. In the video, the animated version of the politician appears to fall over the phone, with a newspaper lying on the floor displaying the headline "Someone very powerful will be silenced." Fans of the series have pointed out "spooky" deets of the prediction, which, according to them, validate the prediction of the death of the former U.S. President:

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The stopped clock: A clock on the wall of the office has the hands stuck at precisely 7:00 AM.

The shadow: An image of a figure reflected in a window just before the character in the video appears to fall.

The newspaper: An image supposedly indicating a future event to take place.

Origins: AI and 4chan, not Fox Studios

Despite the hype surrounding this video, there are a number of tell-tale signs of an image created using an AI. In fact, fact-checking sites such as PolitiFact and Snopes have been able to trace the image of "Simpsons Trump in a Casket" to a post made in 2017 on the online image board site 4chan.

This video appears to be an "official" fan-made animation created using an AI. Experts in video production have noted that "the animation style may look similar to the actual show, but it lacks the fluid movement and line weighting of the actual animation done by Rough Draft Studios for The Simpsons."

Showrunners speak: 'It's a coincidence or a fake'

While The Simpsons is renowned for its "prophetic" satire, such as the 2000 episode "Bart to the Future" predicting Trump’s 2016 presidential win, the showrunners have repeatedly talked about such viral claims. "If you throw enough darts, you're going to get some bullseyes," showrunner Al Jean said about the show's unintentional accuracy. When it comes to the "unaired" clip under consideration, the showrunners have confirmed that no such scene was ever planned or created for any past or upcoming episode.

The social media echo chamber

While the video has garnered millions under the hashtags #SimpsonsPredictions and #Trump2026 on TikTok, a few social media users claim to be surprised by the "unaired" clip. However, the video has been utilized by a few social media users to propagate conspiracy theories on the prevailing political situation.

According to social media experts, the "Simpsons Predictions" video is a form of misinformation and is a recurring phenomenon on social media. Such misinformation is created with the intent to capitalize on the show's reputation for its sharp satire. Such misinformation was previously created on the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of other world leaders.