Simpsons writer with famous Trump prediction steps into presidential race

©Erik Mclean via Unsplash

Dan Greaney, the writer of The Simpsons who 25 years ago predicted that Donald Trump would become president of the United States, has surprised friend and foe alike. Indeed, the 61-year-old man has officially declared himself a candidate for the 2028 U.S. presidential election.

Dan Greaney announced his candidacy in an Instagram video in which he is dressed up as a "prophet" (with robe, gray beard and wig), referring to his nickname "The Prophet" because he predicted Trump's presidency in the episode "Bart to the Future" that was shown on TV back in the year 2000.

Dan Greaney is one of the first to publicly state he will make a bid for the White House in 2028. "Government should work for everyone," he says in the video announcing his candidacy, "and provide democracy, accountability and prosperity for everyone. But it doesn't. That's why I'm running for president."

He describes himself as a "progressive Republican in the tradition of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt."

Greaney wrote, among other things, the famous 2000 episode "Bart to the Future," which paints a futuristic picture with Lisa Simpson as the U.S. president who succeeds Donald Trump. All this in a country plunged into deep debt and even broken by Trump's presidency. At the time, Trump was best known as an entrepreneur. Ten years ago, Greaney revealed that he saw this episode not so much as parody, but rather as a warning to the nation: "It felt like the logical last step before we really hit rock bottom. I suggested and wrote that because it was so consistent with the vision of an America going crazy."

The Simpsons is the longest-running animated television series, sitcom and scripted prime-time series in American history, aired since 1989 on Fox. It's an iconic and cultural viewing icon with global appeal in many languages. The American series won many Emmys and has famous catchphrases such as Homer's "D'oh!"

©Erik Mclean via Unsplash - image from The Simpsons used in the world-famous opening credits.