guides
Why Are People Saying 'Joe Biden Is Dead'? The Viral Conspiracy Theory Following The President's COVID Diagnosis Explained
A wild conspiracy theory claiming that President Joe Biden has not been merely absent from the public due to his COVID-19 diagnosis but has actually died has been gaining steam on social media lately — especially since he's now dropped out of the 2024 Presidential Election.
Internet death hoaxes are nothing new, but where did this theory originate, why and who's been talking about it? Learn more in our brief explainer.
What Is The ‘Joe Biden Is Dead’ Conspiracy Theory?
The conspiracy theory surrounding Joe Biden supposedly being dead claims that the United States President died sometime in mid-July 2024 after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The theory suggests that subsequent events, such as Biden dropping out of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election and his endorsement of his Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential candidate, could have been a cover-up in an attempt to do damage control or hide the truth from the public.
What Is The 'Joe Biden Is Dead' Conspiracy Theory Based On?
Those who believe in the theory that Biden is dead question his prolonged absence from the public that started on July 17th after the President was diagnosed with COVID-19 while on the campaign trail and supposedly flew to his Delaware residence for self-isolation.
A few of the points that those who believe in the conspiracy theory make are Biden's previous statements about his unwillingness to drop out of the election, the signature on his dropout letter purportedly containing an atypical underline and a rumor that Biden experienced a severe medical emergency on July 17th.
Some people also pointed out that on July 22nd, the Capitol flag was at half-mast, which is usually done when someone has died. However, the flag was actually at half-mast due to U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson passing away.
Who Has Been Talking About 'Joe Biden Is Dead' Theory and Spreading It?
While it is unknown who exactly started the rumor, the conspiracy theory has primarily been circulated within right-wing and conservative circles on social media, particularly Twitter / X. Political activist Charlie Kirk, U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert and conservative talk show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones were among those who speculated about Joe Biden's death in July 2024.
It was also discussed on various YouTube channels and media outlets. For example, the YouTube channel The Quartering covered it in a July 22nd video that quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views in less than 24 hours.
It's worth noting that this conspiracy theory is entirely based on speculation and anecdotes people are drawing on their own to explain it, and reports state that President Biden is set to make a formal announcement about ending his 2024 reelection campaign tomorrow (July 24th) at 8 p.m. EST, which should put the rumors to rest.
For the full history of "Joe Biden Is Dead" Conspiracy Theory, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
