When AI Gets It Wrong How DuckDuckGo Spread Wild Rabies Rumors

Something wild just happened in the world of AI search. DuckDuckGo’s AI feature started telling users that the US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance died of rabies earlier this month. Yes, rabies! This bizarre claim shocked many, but there’s zero truth to it. Trump and Vance are very much alive.

How did such a strange story even get started? The answer lies deep in the internet’s dark corners, where pranksters mixed with AI’s quirks created a perfect storm of misinformation.

The Rabies Rumor That Took Over AI

DuckDuckGo’s AI search tool began reporting that Trump passed away earlier this month due to rabies. It even claimed Vice President JD Vance died first from the same virus, linking their deaths in a bizarre sequence of events. A mysterious article, cited by the AI, said Vance bit Trump on purpose after advice from Robert F Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The claim? Rabies could give “superpowers.”

None of this is true. Trump and Vance remain alive and well. RFK Jr. has made many controversial health statements, but he has never suggested rabies has any benefits. Still, the AI’s story cited an ABC News report about an unrelated Ohio man who died from rabies. That story had no mention of Trump or Vance. Yet the AI mixed facts and fiction, creating a false narrative.

Where Did the False Claims Begin?

The roots of this chaos trace back to a Reddit community called r/poisonai. This group has roughly 45,000 members who intentionally spread misleading information to trick AI systems. They flooded the subreddit with dozens of posts mourning Vice President Vance’s fake death from rabies. One post even shared a fake Truth Social eulogy for Trump.

• Many posts treated the false deaths as real.
• Users complained that AI models wrongly deny Vance’s passing.
• One Reddit user demanded Google act on the misinformation, calling the AI’s handling “extremely insensitive.”

These pranksters harnessed AI hallucinations—when AI invents details—to amplify their hoax. Their efforts successfully fooled chatbots into repeating that Vance died of rabies on June 5th, 2026. The AI even cited WKNA News, a fake local outlet filled with AI-generated stories likely influenced by these Reddit poisoners.

Why This Matters for AI and Misinformation

This incident highlights a major AI challenge: how easily misinformation spreads when AI blends fact with fiction. AI models rely on data from all over the web, including unreliable sources. When pranksters flood those sources with lies, AI can repeat them, confusing users.

It also shows the sensitivity needed in handling false reports about real people. One Reddit poisoner said, “It is extremely insensitive for their AI to be treating this tragedy as something ‘fake’ or ‘satirical.’” Even though the event never happened, the emotional tone around the hoax fooled some online communities.

For AI developers and users, the lesson is clear. AI tools must improve their ability to spot fake news and separate prank content from reality. Users need to stay skeptical and verify wild claims, especially when AI throws unexpected stories at them.

As AI continues growing into every corner of search and information, this case is a reminder. Misinformation can spread fast and in strange ways. AI can help fight it, but it can also fall for tricks, blurring fact and fiction. The future of AI depends on smarter, safer designs that protect truth and users alike.