Letter announcing President Jimmy Carter’s death is fake
Jimmy Carter FILE PHOTO: Former president Jimmy Carter prior to the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. A letter circulating on social media was deemed false. The Carter Center said there has been no change in his condition. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A letter circulating on social media that claimed that former President Jimmy Carter has died is fake. The Carter Center said that there was no change in his condition.
A Carter Center spokesperson told WSB “This is false. There has been no announcement or change.”
The original post was shared on the social media platform X, but has since been deleted.
It appeared to have been written on letterhead from “The Office of Jimmy Carter” and was dated July 23, 2024. The first line read that he had “passed away Tuesday, July 23 at 01:34 a.m. at his home,” Reuters reported.
But when displaying the ALT text of the image, it read that Carter “is still alive” and that the letter “was an experiment to see how gullible people are to sensationalist headlines,” Reuters reported.
There were also typos in the text and referred to Rosalynn Carter, the former president’s late wife as “the original Brat,” a term that has been in the spotlight this week in reference to memes about Vice President Kamala Harris.
Still, not everyone caught that the letter was fake. Business Insider reported that Sen. Mike Lee of Utah shared the image of the letter which contained sexually explicit untruths.
Snopes found that conservative commentator Laura Loomer shared and then deleted the post. She admitted that she had shared it, calling the fake letter “Gross” and “adding “People should not post death hoaxes.”
Jimmy Carter, 99, is in hospice care which he entered in February 2023. Rosalynn Carter died in November 2023 after being diagnosed with dementia.
Jason Carter, the first couple’s grandson, gave an update on the former president’s health in June saying his grandfather is “experiencing the world as best he can,” WSB reported.
Jimmy Carter turns 100 years old on Oct. 1.
Jimmy Carter through the years Jimmy(James Earl) Carter as Ensign, USN, circa World War II. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images) ( /Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years (Original Caption) Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter formerly announces intention to seek Dem. President candidacy here. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, 39th President of the United States (1977-1981), Governor of Georgia (1971-1975). (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Photo 12/Universal Images Group via Getty)
Jimmy Carter through the years President Jimmy Carter. (Photo by/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) (CQ Archive/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)
Jimmy Carter through the years Louisville, Kentucky, USA - November 23, 1975: Then Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter stands in front of posters saying 'Let's Elect JIMMY CARTER President' and addresses the National Democratic Issues Convention. (Photo by Mariette Pathy Allen/Getty Images) (Mariette Pathy Allen/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years (Original Caption) 11/23/1976-Washington, DC- Striking a pose similar to that of George Washington in the painting behind him, President-elect Jimmy Carter speaks to reporters at the Capitol where he met with House and Senate leaders. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years (Original Caption) 3/16/1977-Clinton, MA: President Jimmy Carter as he addresses a town meeting. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the White House during a fireside chat on the Panama Canal Treaty, Washington, D.C., USA, photograph by Marion S. Trikosko,. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Circa Images/Universal History Archive/Univer)
Jimmy Carter through the years American President Jimmy Carter lays a wreath at the foot of a tomb at the cemetery at Omaha Bearch, where American soldiers killed during the Normandy landing of June 6, 1944 are buried, during his official trip to France. (Photo by Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) (Henri Bureau/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years November 17, 1979: President Carter, shown waist-up, waves as he boards a helicopter on the White House lawn to fly to Camp David, Maryland, where he will spend the Thanksgiving holiday. He canceled a holiday in Georgia because of the Iranian crisis. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years 1979 President Jimmy Carter with his name in large letters above him appearing at a high school. (Photo by Ray Fisher/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Ray Fisher/The LIFE Images Collection via G)
Jimmy Carter through the years (Original Caption) Washington: President Carter speaks of the need for new energy source as he stands onto he roof of the West Wing of the White House to dedicate a newly installed solar heating system. The $28,000 unit primarily provides hot water for the staff mess hall. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years (Original Caption) 3/24/1979-Elk City, Oklahoma: President Jimmy Carter addressing a town meeting. American flag is hung in background. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter renovating an apartment building on the Lower East Side for Project Habitat for Humanity, New York, NY 1984 (Photo by Evelyn Floret/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images via Getty Images) (Evelyn Floret/The LIFE Images Collection via G)
Jimmy Carter through the years ATLANTA - OCTOBER 17: Former President Jimmy Carter throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game One of the 1992 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays at Fulton County Stadium on October 17, 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves defeated the Blue Jays 3-1. (Photo by MLB via Getty Images) (MLB Photos/MLB via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years ATLANTA - January 4: Former US President Jimmy Carter photographed with a wooden Chess set, board, case and photo album he made by hand at The Carter Center on January 4,1993 in Atlanta Georgia. (Photo By Rick Diamond/Getty Images) (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 717 -- Pictured: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on June 21, 1995 -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Jimmy Carter through the years Jimmy Carter attends Habitat For Humanity Benefit Project on June 23, 1995 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former US president Jimmy Carter takes a rest June 2, 1997, during an early bicycle tour at the office of Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok in The Hague. Carter and some members of his family cycled some 25 km (16 miles) from the Noordwijk congress center through the dunes to the center of The Hague. Carter is taking part in the Inter Action Council of former heads of state and governments. (Photo credit should read ED OUDENAARDEN/AFP via Getty Images) (ED OUDENAARDEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years ATLANTA -- SEPT 14: Former President Jimmy Carter interviewed for "The Presidents' Gatekeepers" project at the Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, September 14, 2011. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) (David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years ATLANTA -- SEPT 14: Former President Jimmy Carter interviewed for "The Presidents' Gatekeepers" project at the Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, September 14, 2011. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) (David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former US president Jimmy Carter speaks during a press conference about his home building work project on November 7, 2011 in Leogane, south of Port-au-Prince for victims of the last earthquake of January 12, 2010. AFP PHOTO/Thony BELIZAIRE (Photo credit should read THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP via Getty Images) (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school on Easter Sunday at Maranatha Baptist Church on April 20, 2014 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images) (Chris McKay/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school on Easter Sunday at Maranatha Baptist Church on April 20, 2014 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images) (Chris McKay/Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years Jimmy Carter speaks onstage during the 2015 MusiCares Person of The Year honoring Bob Dylan held at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic) (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter attends the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The annual benefit raises critical funds for MusiCares' Emergency Financial Assistance and Addiction Recovery programs. For more information visit musicares.org. (Photo by Michael Kovac/WireImage) (Michael Kovac/WireImage)
Jimmy Carter through the years Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to the congregation at Maranatha Baptist Church before teaching Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia on April 28, 2019. Carter, 94, has taught Sunday school at the church on a regular basis since leaving the White House in 1981, drawing hundreds of visitors who arrive hours before the 10:00 am lesson in order to get a seat and have a photograph taken with the former President and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES - 2018/03/26: Former US President Jimmy Carter at a book signing for his new book "Faith: A Journey For All" at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan in New York City. (Photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Jimmy Carter through the years FILE- In this Oct. 7, 2019 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter builds corbels at a Habitat for Humanity project in Nashville, Tenn. Carter fell at home, requiring 14 stitches, but he did not let his injuries keep him from participating in his 36th building project with the nonprofit Christian housing organization. Carter, the longest serving president in U.S. history, recovered from several falls this year. This was one of the top stories in Georgia in 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey/AP)
Jimmy Carter through the years FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 file photo, Former President Jimmy Carter answers questions during a news conference at a Habitat for Humanity project, in Nashville, Tenn. Carter has been hospitalized after an another fall at his home in Plains, Ga. A statement from The Carter Center says Carter suffered "a minor pelvic fracture" on Monday, Oct. 21 but remains in good spirits and looks forward to recovering at home. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) (Mark Humphrey/AP)
Jimmy Carter through the years Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, meets with former President Jimmy Carter, center, at the Buffalo Cafe in Plains, Ga., Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (Matt Rourke/AP)