C-SPAN addresses rumors that viral call was from Trump - USA Today

Television network C-SPAN put rumors to rest after a caller who sounded suspiciously like President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of speculation.

"Because so many of you are talking about Friday’s C-SPAN caller who identified himself as 'John Barron,' we want to put this to rest: it was not the president," C-SPAN said in a social media post on on Sunday, Feb. 22. It went on to say that the call came from a central Virginia phone number and came while the president was meeting with governors at the White House.

"Tune into C-SPAN for the actual president at the State of the Union Address on Tuesday night," it concluded.

Caller used pseudonym previously favored by Trump

Jokes and theories flooded the internet over the weekend after a man, identified as a Republican from Virginia, called into the network on Friday, Feb. 20, with comments about the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's tariffs.

His speech pattern sounded so distinctly like the president's that people began wondering if it could be the man himself – or at least someone doing an impression.

"This is the worst decision you'll ever have in your life, practically," the man told host Greta Brawner. "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,” he continued. “Of course, these people are happy, of course these people are happy. But true Americans will not be happy.”

Adding to the speculation is a 2016 report by the Washington Post, in which it was revealed that Trump had previously used the name "John Barron" as a pseudonym, often redirecting questions to the fictional Barron as his "spokesperson."

"Barron (also spelled “Baron” in some press accounts) appears to have been Trump’s go-to alias when he was under scrutiny, in need of a tough front man or otherwise wanting to convey a message without attaching his own name to it," the Post reported.

Trump used the name throughout the 1980s, only stopping after a lawsuit landed him in court in 1990, where he testified under oath, “I believe on occasion I used that name.”

Rumors linger around C-SPAN 'Trump' call

Some commenters replied to C-SPAN's post about the call and expressed skepticism – though many also joked about the situation.

"Trump, in the White House restroom, with a burner VA phone," said one commentator, referencing the famous murder-mystery game "Clue."

"Yes, it was him... No amount of you telling us to trust you, bro, 'it wasn't him'... She said the proof that it wasn't him was provided by him and the White House... and that proof is: 'No, dude, that ain't me," argued another. "Trump was not in a public meeting when the call to C-Span came in," another agreed.

Others weren't so convinced by the call.

"How could anyone have thought that was Trump? It was an obvious prank," said one comment. "Yes, clearly. But he’s not above doing it as we’ve seen in the past. That’s why it’s funny," another said.

"Make CSPAN Prank Calls Great Again (MCPCGA caucus)," joked one social media user.

How to watch Trump's State of the Union address

Trump is scheduled to deliver the first official State of the Union address of his second term at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Coverage of the event is expected to run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

USA TODAY will provide live streaming coverage of Trump's State of the Union address, both on its YouTube channel and website. Apart from USA TODAY’s live stream, the address will be broadcast by other outlets, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, NPR and PBS.