Ever since Donald Trump announced his intention to campaign for the US presidency, a potentially prophetic joke from The Simpsons has become a widely shared meme.
In the 2000 episode Bart to the Future, Lisa is portrayed as a future US president herself. In a seemingly throwaway gag, she says "as you know we've inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump".
16 years later, 'President Trump' has become a much more feasible prospect than a mere punchline.
Writer Dan Greaney has now told the Hollywood Reporter the joke was intended as a 'warning to America'.
Mr Greaney told the publication that the prospect of a 'President Trump' "seemed like the logical last stop before hitting bottom. It was pitched because it was consistent with the vision of America going insane".
He adds that "I am tickled we are getting all this attention - but I don't think it's going to trigger this well-awaited re-evaluation of my episode that I was hoping for" - referring to the negative reception the episode has received among fans for its dark portrayal of a future Bart Simpson.
