The Simpsons fans say show predicted Trumps dog-eating claim about Springfield

A stream of The Simpsons memes erupted on social media in response to the presidential debate on Tuesday - specifically after Trumps unfounded claim that gave a shout-out to Springfield.

Citing the television and baseless social media rumors, Trump alleged that Haitian immigrants residing in Springfield, Ohio, were kidnapping dogs and cats - and then eating them. 

The outlandish comment happened within just 30 minutes of the debate, sparking not only concern for the widespread issue of misinformation, but jokes relating to the longest-running animation series in history - The Simpsons.

While also being a city in Ohio, the shows fictional location also has the same name. 

During the presidential debate, former president, Donald Trump, made an unhinged claim - that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were abducting cats and dogs - and then eating them

After Trumps outlandish accusation, Simpson fans took to social media saying that the show may have predicted Trumps dog-eating comment through one of their episodes

In his first presidential debate with Kamala Harris, Trump said: In Springfield, theyre eating the dogs. The people that come in. Theyre eating the cats. 

Theyre eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is whats happening in our country, and its a shame. 

The unfounded statement was immediately debunked by ABC News moderator, David Muir, who fact-checked the former president before correcting him, saying: ABC News did reach out to the city manager there. He told us there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individual within the immigrant community.

But the ordeal sparked hilarious comparisons to The Simpsons online.  

Political scientist, Ian Bremmer, took to X during the debate to quote Trumps claim, saying: Could be a Simpsons episode.   

Trump doubled down on his statement, interrupting Muir. He said: People on television say, "My dog was taken and used for food" so maybe he said that and maybe thats a good thing to say for a city manager. 

Springfield Mayor, Rob Rue, reiterated the inaccuracy of the rumor, saying that the city had no documented cases of immigrants eating pets. 

The Simpsons has a reputation of being able to predict major news events. 

Fans of the show took to social media to re-circulate an old episode that predicted Trumps false claim.

Political scientist, Ian Bremmer, took to X during the debate after Trumps comment about dog-eating, saying could be a Simpsons episode

One user on X said: Donald Trump thinks hes living in The Simpsons... 

In the episode, Homer Simpson was handed a beer by his buddy to try. He seemed to enjoy it - stating that it was cold, refreshing, and something I cant quite put my finger on. 

In the next scene, the viewers see the beer being created in a factory - with none other than dogs swimming in the liquid. After taste-testing, the character said: Needs more dog. 

The jokes didnt end there. Given that Trump referenced a city named Springfield, it didnt take long for the Simpson fanatics to reference the fictional hometown - and the familys fictional dog, Santas little helper.

In one X post, a user wrote: IN SPRINGFIELD THEYRE EATING THE DOGS, which was accompanied by a picture of the cartoon pup, side-eyeing the screen. 

In another post, a user wrote: Im sorry, Santas little helper, but Springfields different these days. You need to stay in the house, along with a photo of an upset Bart Simpson talking to his dog.  

Santas little helper, the family dog on the fictional show, was one of the main surrounding themes of the jokes on social media

Trumps unhinged claim was in reference to a rumor spread by his running mate, JD Vance - that Haitian immigrants in Ohio have been abducting pets and consuming them, causing chaos in the town.

The claim largely stems from social media, including a Facebook group called Springfield Ohio Crime and Information, where a member said they knew someone who had seen a cat hanging from a branch in a way that looked like it was going to be butchered and carved near a house where Haitians lived, according to Newsweek.

At a meeting of the city commission, the Springfield mayor said: Rumors like these are taking away from the real issues such as housing concerns, resources needed for our schools and our overwhelmed health care system.

John Kirby, the national security spokesperson for the White House, also denounced Trumps claims - labeling it as a dangerous conspiracy theory that could inspire violence against immigrants.

Immigration is a dominant subject in the presidential race. It was found that 22 percent of voters put immigration and the border as the most important issue facing the country, according to a poll conducted by NBC in April.

Ever since Elon Musk dropped Grok-2, an AI generated platform available through X, users have been making memes of Trump saving animals from being eaten by Haitian immigrants

In some of the AI posts created, Trump is shirtless and appears to be running away from people depicted as dog-eaters

Springfield, Ohio, is home to roughly 60,000 people but has seen thousands of immigrants arriving to the state in recent years - many of which are from Haiti.

City officials say that up to 20,000 immigrants have made Springfield their new home, reversing a long decline of the citys population dropping over the last 60 years, according to the BBC.

Although there were many memes circulating around Trumps comments throughout the entire debate, his Springfield comment seemed to take the cake for the favorite - and most insane - on social media.