A caller using the name John Barron an alias famously employed by Donald Trump during the 1980s and 1990s phoned into C-SPAN to criticize the Supreme Court’s decision on his tariffs.
The call quickly became a notable moment after the caller, speaking in a voice that closely resembled the former president, launched into a tirade about the ruling before being cut off by host Greta Brawner. The caller said:
"Well this is John Barron and look, this is the worst decision you ever had in your life, practically. Jack, and Jack's going to agree with me, right? But this is a terrible decision and you have Hakeem Jeffries, he's a dope, and you have Chuck Schumer, who can't cook a cheeseburger. Of course these people are happy. But true Americans will not be happy. You had the woman earlier I assume she's a woman, she's a Democrat but she said she's disgraced. She's devastated."
The exchange lasted just 32 seconds before Brawner moved on to another caller.
Whether the voice belonged to Trump himself or someone impersonating him remains unclear. C-SPAN has publicly denied that the former president was on the line, explaining that the call originated from a central Virginia phone number while Trump was reportedly in a private, widely covered meeting with governors. According to the timeline, the call was received at 10:51 a.m. EST, with a press conference beginning just two minutes later.
The call came shortly after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s import tariffs in a 6-3 decision, ruling that he had exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs without congressional approval. Undeterred, Trump later announced plans to raise global tariffs from 10% to 15% using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act a provision that allows him to maintain tariffs for 150 days before Congress intervenes. He described the court’s ruling as “extraordinarily anti-American” and “ridiculous,” according to reports.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions. Many viewers noted the striking similarity between the caller’s voice and Trump’s, while others debated whether it could have actually been the former president. One X user joked, “Wait, the leader of the free world is making prank phone calls?! Is he back at a 5th grade sleepover party?” Others wrote that, even if it wasn’t Trump, the uncertainty itself was telling.
This unusual incident underscores both the former president’s long history with the John Barron persona and the unpredictable ways he continues to draw attention even indirectly after leaving office.
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