Fake Death Announcement of Former President Jimmy Carter

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

• The viral death announcement of former President Jimmy Carter is false, filled with satirical claims and lewd references.
• The Carter Center confirmed to PolitiFact that the letter is a hoax, and Carter is still alive.
• The fake letter was shared widely on social media, including by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, whose post has since been removed.

In the age of rapid information dissemination, misinformation can spread like wildfire across social media platforms, often outpacing the truth. A recent example of this phenomenon is the fake death announcement of former President Jimmy Carter, which has been widely debunked by reliable sources, yet managed to capture the attention of many, including public figures.

The Anatomy of the Hoax Letter

The fabricated letter purportedly announcing the death of former President Jimmy Carter is a masterclass in deception. It starts off with a veneer of credibility, making it seem plausible at first glance. The letter claimed that the 99-year-old former president had passed away on July 23 at his home in Plains, Georgia. It described Carter as a passionate advocate for human rights, a World War II veteran, and the 39th president of the United States. This initial setup was designed to lower the reader’s guard and lend an air of authenticity to the hoax.

However, as the letter progresses, it devolves into blatant satire. It lists absurd and exaggerated foreign policy "achievements" such as "selling the United States out to Panama" and "getting soft on the Soviet Union." These claims are not only historically inaccurate but also clearly intended to ridicule Carter’s presidency. The letter further undermines its credibility with salacious references to Carter’s late wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, and other first ladies, which are in poor taste and serve as a red flag for discerning readers.

Social Media Spread

Despite the obvious red flags, the hoax letter gained significant traction on social media. One notable instance of its spread was when Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted the letter on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Lee’s post included an image of the letter and was shared widely before it was eventually removed. The post included a description that characterized the letter as fake, stating, "President Carter is still alive and in hospice care. This was an experiment to see how gullible people are to sensationalist headlines."

This incident highlights a critical issue in the digital age: the rapid and unchecked spread of misinformation. Even when a post includes a disclaimer about the content being fake, the sensational nature of the headline can still cause confusion and mislead people. The fact that a U.S. senator shared the hoax added a layer of perceived legitimacy to the false claim, further complicating efforts to debunk it.

Official Response

The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded by Jimmy Carter, quickly moved to debunk the false death announcement. In an email to PolitiFact, the Carter Center’s media office stated, "The letter is false. There has been no announcement or change." This official clarification was crucial in setting the record straight and reassuring the public that the former president is still alive.

Former President Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, entered hospice care in February 2023. His grandson, Jason Carter, provided an update to Southern Living in June, stating that there had been "no change" in the former president’s condition since he began receiving hospice care. These updates underscore the importance of relying on credible sources for information about public figures, especially those as prominent as a former U.S. president.

Conclusion

At 99 years old, Jimmy Carter remains the oldest living former U.S. president and the longest-lived president in U.S. history. The claim of his death is unequivocally false.

Sources:

Business Insider

Southern Living