A series of bizarre posts were sent from Donald Trump Jr.'s account on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, one of which suggested that not only his father, Donald Trump, had died but that we would be making a 2024 presidential bid in his place.
The posts also included offensive comments about President Joe Biden containing racial epithets, an insult toward Elon Musk, and a claim about messages with Jeffrey Epstein.
However, as was quickly revealed by others, the posts sent by the president's son were not what they may have seemed.
The Claim
A series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, from Donald Trump Jr.'s account, on September 20, 2023, included the claim: "I'm sad to announce my father Donald Trump has passed away. I will be running for president in 2024."
The Facts
Other messages posted from Donald Trump Jr.'s account included "F*** @JoeBiden Stupid A** N****," "Some interesting messages with Jeffrey Epstein" and "my dad owns u @eleonmusk bum."
The messages only appeared briefly before being removed, the content and tone of the posts clearly the result of a hack on the president's son's account.
While the messages are now gone, Trump Jr.'s spokesperson, Andrew Surabian, commented on one of the posts on X, writing "FYI: This is obviously not true. Don's account has been hacked."
Other members of the Trump family also commented. Eric Trump joked about the hack afterward, posting on X: "What was@donaldtrumpjr password? Don2024? 😋" The comment was reposted by Surabian.
Newsweek has reached out to media representatives for Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump and X via email for comment.
Although he has not responded to the hack, Donald Trump's Truth Social account was updated around the time the messages were sent, commenting on Biden's speech to the United Nations.
Posting around 9 a.m. ET, Trump wrote: "If I would have made that speech yesterday at the United Nations, for all of the World to see, including the HORRENDOUS delivery, I would have been run out of politics! An EMBARRASSMENT to our Country."
The Ruling
False.
Donald Trump is not dead, as messages shared from Donald Trump Jr.'s X account may have suggested.
The claim was part of a number of bizarre social media posts that appeared briefly. A spokesperson for the president's son confirmed that Trump Jr.'s account was hacked. The former president had posted a message on Truth Social around the same time the hack occurred.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
