Was a baby born at a Missouri hospital named "MAGA Trump Jr."? Viral story explored

A rumor that a woman in Branson, Missouri, named her newborn baby "MAGA Trump Jr." has been going viral on various social media platforms over the past few days. The claim first originated on Facebook by the page Branson Area Breaking News on April 18, 2025, with many believing it to be true. However, it has since been debunked by the fact-checking website Snopes.com.

The Facebook page claimed that a baby delivered at the Cox Medical Center was named MAGA Trump Jr. The post, which had included a picture of a woman and a baby wearing MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats, was captioned:

"Newborn named 'MAGA' born at Cox Medical Center Branson. A baby born at Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri, has been named 'MAGA Trump Jr.,' referencing the slogan 'Make America Great Again.' The child's birth has already sparked conversations due to his unique name, reflecting a trend of politically inspired naming."

The caption continued:

"As Branson welcomes this distinctive addition to the community, many are curious about how young MAGA will navigate life with such a notable name. His story is just beginning, and it promises to be a topic of conversation for years to come."

The post, which has been shared over 340 times on Facebook, was also cross-posted on various platforms like Instagram, X, and Threads. However, Snopes.com has debunked the claim, dubbing it "satire." The website also pointed out that the image of the mother and baby was most likely AI-generated, owing to the distortion in the words on the hat.

Furthermore, Branson Area Breaking News, the Facebook page that originated the claim, is a satire/parody page, and its intro reads:

"We are a world renowned satirical news organization & have received many awards for our breaking news stories!"

Additionally, no major publication has reported on this claim, cementing the theory that it was a parody post.

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Donald Trump is considering "baby bonuses" to boost the birth rate in the US

President Donald Trump, who has dubbed himself the "King of IVF" and "the fertilization president" during previous campaign rallies, is now looking into proposals to help spawn a "baby boom" in the US to boost the birth rate.

According to The Daily Mail on April 21, the proposals came after the fertility rate in the US hit an all-time low, with the rate of births in 2024 dropping by 3% compared to 2022. One of the considered proposals is a "baby bonus," which includes giving a $5,000 bonus to every American mother after the birth of her child.

Speaking to ABC News on April 23, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was "proudly implementing policies to uplift American families," further adding:

"The president wants America to be a country where all children can safely grow up and achieve the American dream. As a mother myself, I am proud to work for a president who is taking significant action to leave a better country for the next generation."

Other proposals under consideration include offering "Reserved Fulbright scholarships" to married women and mothers, and government-funded fertility education programmes for women.

The "baby boom" is backed by many high-profile figures, including Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has rallied for the use of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) to boost birth rates.

According to Business Standard on April 22, the White House is also working on solutions to make IVF more "affordable and accessible," with an official report detailing said solution expected by mid-May.

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For the unversed, Trump was inaugurated for his second presidency on January 20, 2025.