On July 23, 2024, online users and publications shared a purported breaking news item claiming former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 99. Some of the postings shared an official-appearing letter supposedly making the announcement about the country's 39th president. However, at least one part of the letter revealed it to be a fake. The fabricated letter involved both a death hoax and an apparent attempt at humor.
The first paragraph of the fake letter read, "Former President Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.), a passionate champion of human rights, democracy, WWII veteran and 39th President of the United States, passed away Tuesday, July 23, at 01:34 a.m., at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 99. He died peacefully, with family by his side."
However, the fourth paragraph – one apparently not fully reviewed by the users and publications rushing to quickly capitalize on the purported news – read, in part, "All his life, President Carter considered his marriage to former First Lady Rosalynn Carter his life's greatest achievement. At her passing last November, President Carter said, 'Rosalynn was a baddie. Jill, Melania, even throat goat Nancy Reagan had nothing on Rosalynn. She was the original Brat.'"
'Throat Goat' and 'Brat'
The term "throat goat" references oral sex. NBCChicago.com reported a longer definition of "Brat" in an article about Charli XCX's album of the same name and the term's fresh affiliation with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris – now a possible 2024 Democratic Party nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris:
In a TikTok interview, Charli XCX explained the meaning of the word "brat," which she uses to describe herself.
"You're just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things some times," she says. "Who feels herself, but maybe also has a breakdown, but kind of like parties through it."
She adds that a brat is "very honest, very blunt, a little bit volatile."
New York Post, Laura Loomer and Others Share Carter Hoax
It's unclear if all of the users and publications promoting the death hoax also published the fake letter. Snopes.com was unable to review each article or post, seeing as users did not capture archived snapshots before each author realized the mistake and removed the content.
According to a search result on Bing, New York Post published and then removed a story promoting the false news Carter died.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, or a member of his staff, reportedly shared and removed the news from his X account. Business Insider senior politics reporter Bryan Metzger shared on X a screenshot of Lee's post.
Conservative commentator Laura Loomer on X shared and then deleted the fake letter.
Loomer confirmed in a later post she promoted the death hoax.
Further, according Google and Bing search results, KXLF-TV, Free Republic and Scripps News also all published or republished and then deleted – whether as original reporting or syndicated stories – the false news about Carter's purported death.
We will update this story should any further details come to light.