The Simpsons is known to have predicted numerous events after airing in 1989. The theories have grown so consistently accurate that they are almost beyond coincidence, from the development of GMO foods to Donald Trump’s presidency. After 2026 arrived, Trump’s second term took another step toward endangering the US.
He demands that Venezuelan oil be cut from Cuba’s fuel supply. And the matter has grown worse as he threatens the world with a 25% tariff increase on imported goods for anyone who has partner trades with Iran. The discussions increased the global fear of a fossil fuel shortage, which The Simpsons predicted back in 2009.
The Simpsons Hypothesized a World War Over Oil
The Fox animated sitcom’s 20th season is famously known for its 17th episode, “The Good, The Bad, and the Drugly.” It became a highly talked-about topic for Lisa Simpson’s B-plot storyline. For her social studies assignment, she is tasked to discuss her thoughts on what the town of Springfield would look like in 50 years.
She quickly becomes hopeless when she Googles for possible answers. It led her to the website, Allnomo, presenting the site of humanity destroying itself from resource shortages after neglecting global warming. The next day, Lisa gave an aggressive speech to voice her frustrations and felt the Earth would die no matter what.
Simpsons fans recognized that repeated behavior from Greta Thunberg’s 2019 United Nations speech, 10 years after “The Good, the Bad, and the Drugly” aired. The Swedish climate protection activist harshly criticized the world leaders for not investing in preserving the environment.
Her 16-year-old self warns them, “We’ll be watching you. […] You all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! […] People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of mass extinction, and yet all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you! For over 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. […] You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. […] Because if you really understood the situation and still kept failing to act, then you would be evil. And that I refused to believe.”
“The Good, the Bad, and the Drugly” resurfaces for predicting a new resource war. One of the future articles Allnomo showed Lisa was countries fighting for fossil fuels. The featured image depicts the Earth coated in nuclear explosions, and the headline reads “World War Over Last Drop of Oil.”
How Trump’s Recent Oil Demands Relate to the Episode
Since last December, President Trump and his administration have shown interest in Venezuela’s shale oil supply. News reports informed the global public that the US Marines had seized the Guyana oil tanker, the Skipper, off the nation’s coast on Dec. 10, 2025. Head US analyst of Kpler, Matt Smith, explained that the ship has tricked the AIS (automatic identification system) by broadcasting false positions since 2022. The Skipper’s path is assumed to be transporting oil to Cuba.
US Marines later captured two Russian tankers off the west coast of Scotland on Jan. 7, 2026. They discovered that the Bella 1 was renamed “Marinera.” Bella 1’s operators achieved cross-sea trades by swapping their nationality flags, violating Article 92 of the UN’s Convention on the Law of the Sea. Its sister vessel, the M/T Sophia, is under allegations of conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean. All three have connections to providing sanctioned fossil fuels from Venezuela and Iran.
After President Trump said that the US will keep the seized fossil fuels, Vice President JD Vance further established that the Latin American country can still sell oil, but only under the US’s interests. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdada Cabello have voiced their claims that the nation is enacting piracy.
The situation intensifies when oil shareholders linked to former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture see it as an opportunity for cheaper petroleum. Currently, US crude oil is trading between $57 and $59 per barrel, while Venezuelan shale oil is trading at $26 to $45 per barrel for existing wells. However, newly drilled wells will cost between $61 and $70 to reach break-even.
Fossil fuel expenses are expected to worsen after Iran’s capital, Tehran, roared in protest on Dec. 28, 2025. City streets were flooded with university students and angry shopkeepers who are fed up with the US and the open market dropping their currency value to 1.42 million rials (1.30 USD). Necessary goods such as food and clothes suffered from 40% inflation. And due to Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions have weakened its economy. Iranian authorities responded with violence and killed at least 2,000 people, according to PBS News.
As of Jan. 13, oil prices have risen by 1% after Trump threatened to raise tariffs for anyone who shares trades with Iran. The penalty will raise shipments up to 25%, a similar tactic he used on China in the previous year.
Could the Global Oil War Happen Faster than The Simpsons Expected?
The Simpsons’ 2009 episode hypothesized that the next World War could happen in 2059, which is 33 years away from now. Yet, due to the combined actions of the current world leaders, it could come into effect three times faster than expected. Trump has suggested that the US oil industry should invest $100 billion to purchase Venezuelan fuel. However, gas provider Exxon deemed that the South American country is ‘uninvestable’. This is due to the complicated government history and US sanctions affecting the price of fossil fuels outside of their territory.
International trade policies also come into play as Trump wants to cut Venezuela’s fossil fuels and funds for Cuba. He believes it will risk supporting the Cuban communist party, despite the nation fighting to be free from US sovereignty for decades.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright informed the president that the nation’s current policy does allow Mexico to provide oil. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hopes to negotiate with the White House as she sees providing fossil fuels as an act of humanitarian aid. Until then, as Thunberg said, “We’ll be watching.”
