Kaylah Walton
The latest developments have shown that ‘The Simpsons’ may not always be accurate, especially regarding Kamala Harris and her attempt to secure the U.S. Presidency.
The animated series had forecasted her victory over Donald Trump, a prediction many fans believed due to the show’s historical accuracy in predicting events over the years.
The series had originally suggested back in 2000, during the episode ‘Bart to the Future,’ that Harris could become president. In that episode, Lisa Simpson is depicted as the nation’s first female president, wearing a purple suit reminiscent of what Harris donned at the 2021 inauguration after Joe Biden defeated Trump.
In a statement from the episode, Lisa mentions, “We’ve inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump,” adding an ironic touch to the storyline.
The dress choice of Harris gained significant attention when news broke of Biden‘s withdrawal from the 2024 Democratic presidential race this past July.
Regrettably for Harris, who had Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, she lost the election to Trump and his new vice president, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio.
Public Reactions to the Missed Prediction
The unexpected twist left many fans astonished, prompting reactions on social media as they expressed disbelief that ‘The Simpsons’ could misfire on such a crucial prediction.
“For the first time ever, The Simpsons got it wrong,” one user remarked on Twitter.
Another wondered, “Does this mean the show’s predictive elements are finished now that Kamala didn’t win?”
The program notably forecasted Trump‘s presidential victory in the 2016 election, which Matt Groening later discussed with the Guardian, reflecting on the absurdity of choosing Trump as a placeholder name back in 2000.
“Predicting his presidency was just a ridiculous joke at the time and still holds true. It surpasses satire,” he stated.
Recently, show runner and executive producer Matt Salman elaborated on their knack for foretelling events.
“The less popular answer I offer is that studying history and mathematics inevitably leads to accurate predictions,” he explained to People.
“If you make enough observations, some will coincidentally align with reality, and the mathematical aspect plays into that. Moreover, crafting a show around humanity’s follies ensures you’ll foresee future mistakes as things continue to descend into chaos. Thus, we don’t overthink it.”
