Trump Did Not Suggest Plugging Volcanoes with Cement, Fake Post Circulates

Social media users in February 2026 circulated an image allegedly showing U.S. President Donald Trump questioning on Truth Social why no one had attempted to plug volcanoes with cement to prevent eruptions. The post quickly drew attention and prompted numerous inquiries to fact-checking organizations about its authenticity.

The purported Truth Social post featured text reading: “Why has no one ever experimented with placing cement in the mouth of volcanoes considered active, as in the image, or heavy metal rocks. And when erupting the lava would be blocked, preventing deaths and accidents.” Accompanying the text was a crude diagram depicting a cement plug blocking both the main volcanic vent and a side chute.

An investigation by Snopes revealed the image to be fabricated. While the most recent version circulated in February 2026 and was attributed to Trump, a reverse image search uncovered earlier versions of the identical post dating back to at least June 2022. In these earlier iterations, the post wasn’t attributed to Trump but to a different social media user whose name had been redacted.

No evidence exists of such a post on Trump’s official Truth Social account. The original content appears to have been manipulated to include Trump’s name and profile picture, creating the false impression it originated from the president.

Beyond the verification of the post’s authenticity, volcanologists and geological experts note that the premise itself is fundamentally flawed. Most active volcanoes already possess natural plugs consisting of solidified rock from previous eruptions.

“The common perception of a volcano as a mountain with an open, lava-filled crater at the top is largely a misconception,” explains Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a volcanologist at the Pacific Geoscience Center. “Only a small percentage of the world’s active volcanoes, such as Hawaii’s Kilauea, feature visible lava lakes. Most volcanic craters contain solidified rock and ash from previous eruptions.”

The forces driving volcanic eruptions operate at tremendous pressure and temperatures, capable of fracturing and displacing massive volumes of rock. Any artificial plug, including cement, would offer negligible resistance against these powerful geological forces.

“When magma rises from deep within the Earth, it’s already breaking through natural rock caps under immense pressure,” explains Dr. Jenkins. “A cement barrier would be completely ineffective against the forces involved in an eruption.”

This isn’t the first instance of fabricated posts attributed to political figures going viral. Social media platforms continue to struggle with the proliferation of digitally altered content that appears authentic but spreads misinformation.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about digital literacy and the verification challenges facing users in distinguishing genuine content from sophisticated fakes. As image manipulation technology becomes increasingly accessible, experts recommend verifying suspicious posts through official accounts and reputable news sources before sharing.

The fabricated volcano post represents a growing trend of misinformation that combines scientific misconceptions with falsified political statements to generate viral engagement across social platforms.