Debunked: Viral Fake Letter Claims Former President Jimmy Carter Passed Away

 A fabricated screenshot of a letter allegedly from the office of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter falsely claimed that Carter had passed away on July 23, 2024. This misinformation spread rapidly online, causing widespread confusion. The creator of the hoax admitted to fabricating the letter, telling Reuters that it was a test to see how quickly sensationalist news could go viral.

The fake letter, titled "The Office of Jimmy Carter," purportedly announced the death of the 99-year-old Carter at his home in Plains, Georgia. However, no such announcement appeared on the official website or social media channels of the Carter Center, the non-governmental organization founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

A spokesperson for the Carter Center confirmed the letter's inauthenticity, stating, "This is false. There has been no announcement or change." The false report emerged shortly after Carter made a rare public appearance in November 2023 at a memorial service for his wife, Rosalynn, who passed away on November 19, 2023. Carter had previously faced several health issues and entered hospice care at his Georgia home in February 2023.

The hoax letter first appeared in a post on the social media platform X. The creator of the post, in a direct message to Reuters, revealed that the letter was an experiment to demonstrate how easily misinformation can spread, especially on social media. The creator clarified that they had no malicious intent towards President Carter or his family and respected his contributions to promoting democracy worldwide.

The fabricated letter contained clear signs of being a hoax, including a typo ("bweing") and a fake quote referring to Rosalynn Carter as "the original Brat." These inconsistencies, along with the absence of any official statement, confirmed the letter's falsehood.