Did The Simpsons actually predict Trump shooting? Truth about viral memes on assassination bid

Hours after former US President Donald Trump surviving an assassination bid during an election rally in Pennsylvania, theories began to emerge that The Simpsons predicted the attack years ago.

As Trump began his speech during the rally on Saturday, the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at him using an AR-style rifle from the roof of a manufacturing plant several yards away. The bullet grazed his right ear and he was whisked off the stage quickly by the Secret Service. Before they could neutralise the attacker, one of the spectators was fatally shot and two others were critically wounded.

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It is now being investigated whether there was a security lapse. The FBI is looking into the motive behind the attack and whether anyone else was involved in the assassination plot.

Did 'The Simpsons' predict Trump shooting?

Social media was abuzz with theories that the US sitcom, The Simpsons, predicted the assassination attempt on Trump. The animated show, which has been credited with many accidental predictions, had reportedly portrayed Trump in a coffin. Many netizens said The Simpsons got their prediction wrong for the first time. “The Simpsons prediction failed this time,” said one user while another said, “Simpsons got some explaining to do.” A third one said, “Trump proved The Simpsons wrong!!!”

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A user said, "No way The Simpsons predicted Donald Trump getting shot", while anohter posted, "It's astonishing that The Simpsons actually predicted Donald Trump's assassination attempt." However, THE WEEK cannot independently verify the credibility of the viral photo.

Trump, in a statement following the attack, said, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”