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Right.
Brett Cooper
The significance of the passage of time. Guys, is Barron Trump a time traveler? Also, is Trump possibly visiting us as a past president from the 1800s? Those are questions that are circling online right now. Now, the Trump family obviously has been quick to deny all of these rumors of the president's son being a time traveler. I mean, like, nobody in their right mind is actually gonna be like, yes, Donald Trump's son is a time traveler. Let's confirm this. But that is the craziest conspiracy that is currently taking the Internet by storm. And interestingly, it doesn't just stop with Barron Trump and Donald Trump. It also includes Elon Musk. It also includes the shooter from the White House Correspondence Center. It also includes hantavirus. And maybe what we should be taking from all of this is not necessarily that time travel does certifiably exist, but that our country has been in a predicament like this before, and somehow, by the grace of God, we survived. So maybe it's not a prophecy. Maybe it's just a coincidence and maybe a lot of history. I. I'm so excited about this episode. My fingers were tingling the entire time that I was writing this. This is just so cool. It's so up my alley. It's like crazy theories. It's niche Internet content. I mean, it's not really niche. It's like, literally going viral, but it's Internet content. And then also at the end, we're going to analyze a book. Like, my English major self is so happy. Like, I promise you people an English degree. I am putting it to use. All right, anyway, so while this story, this conspiracy theory about Barron Trump being a time traveler is going viral right now, this theory has actually been making the rounds since. Since Trump's first term. So it originally blew up on 4chan, as all good theories do. And a lot of those communities truly believe that Barron was the future of this country and that these books that we're gonna talk about are prophecies. But now, fast forward almost a decade. Thanks to TikTok deep dives and Reddit threads and viral posts on X, these theories are becoming mainstream enough that actually Lara Trump and Kai Trump are even talking about it. Just watch.
Co-host or Guest
Is Barron Trump a time traveler?
Brett Cooper
No, he's not. You sure? I'm sure. You know what I'm talking about, right? I know. I've seen some stuff on TikTok.
Co-host or Guest
He's not.
There was. There was a book written about the
Brett Cooper
adventures of Barron Trump.
Co-host or Guest
I'm not trying to ruin anybody or rain on any parades here. Barron Trump is not a time traveler.
Brett Cooper
Sorry to say it. I'm sorry.
Co-host or Guest
I broke a lot of people's hearts today. Yeah, I think the theory is crazy, obviously. But listen, that should show you out there how much, like, really crazy stuff exists.
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Co-host or Guest
Name me one time traveler.
Brett Cooper
Name me anybody who actually can say
Co-host or Guest
that that's a real thing. It doesn't exist.
Brett Cooper
Name me one time traveler. It does not exist. All right, we've heard that from the Trump family. Let's put away the conspiracy. It does not exist. The Trump family told us he's not a time traveler. So obviously let's just believe them. It's debunked once and for all. Now just as an aside, this is now like so mainstream. Obviously Kai and Lara are talking about it. The Guardian even wrote an article about it over the last couple of weeks and they actually had a line specifically about Lara's response here that you just saw. And I am so sorry Lara, because really like her. But this line was hysterical. The author wrote. Wow, that was actually a really good point, Lara. I initially thought the theory might have legs, but now that you mention it, I can actually name a time traveler. Not a single one with analytical skills like these. It is no wonder Lara has her own show on Fox News and once served as the co chair of the Republican National Committee. Now obviously this writer does not like the Trump family, does not like Republicans, but it is quite funny and like, obviously no offense to Lara, I went on her show, she was so kind and gracious, literally like flew her entire team, all the Secret Service down to Nashville to work with me. It was wonderful. But in her defense, like, I don't, I don't even know how you would respond to allegations of your brother in law being a time traveler. But we do have to admit her saying name me one time traveler, they don't exist is pretty funny. Anyway, moving on from that, I just wanted to lay that groundwork and give the context that this is becoming pretty mainstream. It's getting a lot of attention these days. So in order to understand this now viral story, we need to take it all the way back to the late 1800s because this is where this conspiracy theory originates. So Ingersoll Lockwood, who is an American lawyer, a diplomat and author, wrote A series of children's novellas which starred a protagonist named Barron Trump. So you can see the covers of the books here. There are two of them. The first one was called Barron Trump's Marvelous Underground Journey. And then the second was called the Travels and Adventures of Little Barron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger. So you might be thinking, okay, whatever, you know, John Smith, there's plenty of books with people's names in them. I'm named after a literary character. Who cares, Brett, whatever. But we can't stop there, because in these novellas, little Barron Trump was a wealthy young boy who lived in some place called Castle Tr and went on time traveling adventures with his dog. And you might think, okay, haha, that's funny, he's living in like the equivalent of Trump Tower. But we can actually. Guys, we can dial in even more because back in the 80s, Trump was actually in the casino business. And for a time, one of his New Jersey casinos was named Trump Castle. And you can see an old commercial right here. They did all of these like royalty themed commercials. And then you can see Trump's Castle. And again, you might think, okay, whatever. Ha ha, ha. That's silly. That's fun. But again, the comparisons between Baron Trump today And from the 1800s, they don't just stop there. Because little Baron in these books, he is guided by a mentor. And that mentor's name is Don, the mentor, the man who is helping guide Baron on these adventures. Time traveling to Russia, time traveling all over the world. His name is Don. And also in the book, the Trump Family, the family of Baron Trump is of German descent, much like our modern day Trumps are now. And yet, guys, it still gets even stranger because Ingersoll Lockwood did not just write the Marvelous Adventures of Barron Trump. He also wrote another novella, this one he wrote in 1896. And this one was called the Last President. It also went by 1900s. It had two different titles, but most commonly it is known as the Last President. And it follows a unlikely populous leader, an unexpected outsider candidate who happens to win the presidency in the United States of America, ushering in, unfortunately, the downfall of the usa. But listen to this. This author writes the second book, the Last President, is where things get even stranger in regards to this conspiracy theory. It describes a shocking and contentious election that leaves New York City, Trump's hometown, in chaos. Protesters storm Fifth Avenue, where Trump Tower stands today, led by anarchists and socialists outraged by the election of a populist president. Adding to the intrigue, the fictional president appoints a man named Pence to his cabinet. I mean, come on. It's just like this is so much fun. It's so crazy, but it is so much fun. But guys, we still are not finished. We have to tie all of this together. So bouncing back to little Baron, little Baron and his adventures. You should know that little Baron Trump in the book his best friend is named Elon. So now we have Elon Musk accidentally in the mix. Elon obviously makes us think of Tesla. And what do you know? Iconic inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla is also part of this theory. So this is what Tik Tok has to say. Just watch.
Co-host or Guest
Donald Trump's uncle, John G. Trump worked for the FBI. Now when Nikola Tesla died, they sent him in because he's a scientist, he's a physicist, engineer, smart guy. So they're like, hey, go in to Nikola Tesla's, you know, room and decipher all his works and whatnot because, you know, Nikola Tesla discovered free energy and a multitude of things, right? So Donald Trump's uncle goes in there and says, ah, we didn't find anything. A bunch of bs. You don't think that Nikola Tesla, who had discovered free energy and manipulated electromagnetism which had that you can in theory bend time, light and space. This man's works was confiscated by him and he didn't find anything.
Brett Cooper
So that is the theory that has taken TikTok by hold. And you might be thinking, okay, Brett, like this is so weird. It is TikTok brainwash. Who even are these podcasters with the dramatic music behind it? Like, no, no, no, let's just, you know, cut the tape, let's move on. This is crazy. But here's the thing. They aren't necessarily saying anything that's unTrue Because Trump's FBI uncle did, after his death, go through Tesla's research. Listen to this. On January 9, 1943, two days after Nikola Tesla died destitute in a New York City hotel, the FBI called MIT professor and esteemed electrical engineer John G. Trump to determine if any of the belongings in the investors estate, which included a purported weapon of mass destruction that Tesla called the death ray, would be dangerous if they fell into enemy hands. So that actually happened. That's Trump's connection to Nikola Tesla. And there is a theory out there that Nikola Tesla was already time traveling in a sense that he was, you know, receiving information from the future. He was possibly even in contact with aliens. I know you're probably going like, brent, Brent, Brent, hold on. But guys, this is not even like a weird 4chan TikTok theory. Look at this clip from the History Channel.
History Channel Narrator
Some ancient astronaut theorists believe there may be another explanation for Tesla's uncanny abilities and mysterious visions. They suggest these spontaneous episodes are proof that Tesla was receiving information from an otherworldly source. These images would literally burst into his mind. Somehow, somewhere, some connection was made. Ends the same way that biblical prophets received their prophecy. Nikola Tesla was clearly in touch with something. You have to wonder if extraterrestrials themselves weren't feeding him images of inventions that only he could understand.
Brett Cooper
I mean, the entire thing just freaks me out. Like, I've watched that clip multiple times now as I've been putting together the episode. I get chills every single time. I don't like thinking about those things. It is very unnerving to me personally. I also loved this comment underneath History Channels video and somebody said, imagine being so intelligent that people think you are in contact with with aliens. Which is pretty epic. So now, tying this all back together, the alleged conspiracy goes that what actually happened two days after Nikola Tesla's death was that Trump's uncle did find something in his hotel room. He found Tesla's time travel plans, and now the entire Trump family, maybe some Elise, but the Trump family for sure has access to this kind of technology. And that runs congruently with Baron, the time traveling boy from the 1800s theory as well. Or the other theory is that Lockwood, the author, was just some kind of profit. So there are two theories here. Trump family, time travelers, a profit from the 1800s, maybe they work together, I have no idea. But that is what people are talking about. Now there is also a whole other rabbit hole you can go down with Tesla. The theory is that he was murdered by the government because he found out how to make energy free, which you can read here. It claims that Nikola Tesla discovered a way to provide unlimited or nearly free wireless electricity to the world and that powerful bankers, industrialists, or the government stepped in because it would destroy energy profits. Now, people love this theory. A lot of people are 100% sold on it. It's also very in line with theories like the sinking of the Titanic, where people claim that JP Morgan, who owned the parent company of the Titanic and was one of the creators of the Federal Reserve, dun, dun, dun, that he actually sunk the ship because allegedly three major opponents of establishing the Fed were on board. They were going to try to convince him or they were going to stop him from being able to establish the Fed. He was also supposed to get on the Titanic and sail with them. He got ill last minute and pulled out. Then mysteriously the ship, you know, hit an iceberg and sunk. Not trying to go down rabbit holes, but just saying those theories are kind of connected. They're just throwing it all out there now. Speaking of throwing things out, have you made the switch to PureTalk? Now paying 70, 80, $90 a month to Big Wireless for unlimited data is insanity. Especially when PureTalk, which is my wireless company, is going to give you unlimited high speed Data for just 34.99amonth. Now, unlimited high speed data at PureTalk used to start at 55 bucks a month, but because PureTalk is constantly pushing and innovating to give you more for less, you can now get that unlimited high speed data for just 34.99amonth. So if you've looked at Pure Talk in the past, obviously they've been working with, you've been thinking about it, but you didn't make the move. Check again. The time is now. And if you're wondering, and obviously this makes sense, but if you're wondering, you know, is Spirit Talks Network really as good as the overpriced big guys whose billboards we see every day? Just try it out for 30 days with no contract and no cancellation fees, you have nothing to lose. And I'm telling you, the service is incredible. You can make the switch in as little as 10 minutes. And if you ever need help, their US customer service team is standing by. Just go to PureTalk.com Cooper to claim unlimited high speed data for just 34.99. Again, that is PureTalk.com Kuber to switch to my wireless company, America's wireless company, PureTalk today. And then once make the switch, you can use that new high speed data to call up my friends over at Preborn. 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They empower women to be mothers. And the ultrasound is just the launching point. It's just the beginning. Because that moment leads to things like paternity care, baby clothes, diapers, counsel, so much more. So if you feel called to get involved, simply dial pound 250. Say the keyword baby on the phone again, that is pound 250 keyword baby. Or visit preborn.com Brett to get involved. All right, now back to these time traveling conspiracies because we still have more. So to make this entire thing just crazier, you know, everybody's talking about Barron Trump, they're talking about 1800s Donald Trump at the same time, simultaneously on social media, there are a few other time traveling allegations that have also gone viral. For example, this was an email that Jeffrey eppins Epstein was cc'd on in 2011, and it went viral after the most recent drop of some of the Epstein files. So in this email, this person says, seth, we should explore the biological consequences of time travel. It would be amusing to calculate the rate of evolution of a population or a mutant that can travel in time. Signed M. Casual. Why not? Seth? Let's just cc Geoffrey. Why not? You know, it's a Monday afternoon. What time did they send this? 2pm on a Monday afternoon? Let's explore it. Why not? Who would be amusing to see what would happen to a society if time travel was real? So that went viral a couple of months ago. Now, in addition to that, there have been a few instances of inactive X accounts allegedly predicting the future. For example, people found a random X account that only had one post in 2023. This person posted the name of the White House Correspondent's dinner shooter, Cole Allen. Nothing else. Never posted any other thing, just simply his name, Cole Allen, in December of 2023. Now, where this really gets trippy and, like, makes the hair on my arm stand up a little bit is that Cole Allen interned at NASA in 2014. And that happened to be the same year that NASA released a paper that was co authored by a man named Henry Martinez. Look at the name on this X account, Henry Martinez. Now, Henry and the other authors of this paper were all connected to Lockheed Martin. And this is the PDF pulled directly from the NASA website. The document ID is there in the hyperlink if you guys want to zoom in and look at that. In case anybody really wants to get into the nitty gritt of this paper, but it is called Testing Orion's Fairing Separation System. And this is really where it gets even weirder for me because not that this all wasn't strange already, but in my mind I thought, okay, well, they were working at NASA at the same time. Obviously this guy was some kind of researcher. Lockheed Martin. This was an intern. But you know, it was the same year. Maybe they crossed paths. Did they chat in the cafeteria? Like, did he know him? Did he just make a random post with his name? I don't know, like, it's just. Maybe they knew each other was my first thought. But no, when you look into it, Henry Martinez from NASA was working on the Orion program, which was based in Houston, Texas. Cole Allen was an intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which was based in Pasadena, California. So there is barely a chance that they cross paths. And now to make things even weirder, I feel like I keep saying that, like to make it even weirder, let's go further. But I mean, that's really what we're doing here. The same Henry Martinez account has this as its cover photo. I first looked at that and I was like, okay, interesting. Dripping paint, I don't know, abstracts in the UT at a modern art museum. But then people on X pointed out that that banner is the header of the EU's time machine website. And then people took it even further because when you alter the image, I don't know how people are doing this, but they realize that it looks eerily similar to Trump Uttler yelling fight, fight, fight. As you can see right there. Like, I saw all of this. I was like, oh my God, I'm literally going crazy. I need to pull my head out of the San Diego touch some grass because I am like going down too many rabbit holes. Like I, I understand how people online lose their minds because this is is all so crazy. I cannot even fathom how people went down this rabbit hole in the first place and made these connections. I am not that expert of a researcher. I am just compiling the information for you guys in an interesting story, but it truly is wild. But I hate to tell you, we still aren't finished. We have more to dive into because another random inactive account, this one back in 2022, seemingly predicted the 2026 outbreak of hantavirus that the world is now seeing unfold. This person said It's Soothsayer account June 11, 2022, 2023 Corona ended. 2026 Hantavirus. And if you don't know There is a strain of a rat virus. I think it is transported through like rat feces. But there is also a human strain called like the Andes Hantavirus. There was an outbreak on a cruise ship. Now it's popping up all over the world. It's crazy. If you have not seen it, get your like coronavirus TikTok dances ready. Get the fluffy coffee ready. We might be back in lockdown, I don't know, but it's weird. So, yeah, take that as you will. Maybe time travel really does exist. Maybe everybody in the world gets to play with it except for us. I have no idea. Or maybe these are just a bunch of very, very odd coincidences. Now, as a little aside, before we get into the, like, final chapter of this episode, I do want to say all of this reminds me of a really fun time traveling TV show that I watched many years ago. It actually came out in 2016. It was called Timeless. It only had two seasons, but I loved it. Like, if you like this kind of stuff, sci fi, but also you're a history buff, there's a little bit of romance in there. If you want more of this, go check it out. I love it. I might go rewatch it. I'm pissed that they never renewed it after that, so. But anyway, go watch it. It's called Timeless. If you want more of this type of thing, you will enjoy it. Anyway, again, I don't know how many times I can say it. It just gets weirder. All of this is so crazy. And I personally find stories like this, deep dives like this really interesting, very entertaining and intriguing. Some online I know will call this brain rot. They're like, why is Brett Cooper giving this time? But I actually think that there is something really interesting and relevant to take away from all of this. And that actually goes back to Lockwood's book, the Last President. And this is where I kind of want to take a step back from the time travel aspect and actually look at what Lockwood was writing about. And sure, you know, some people might say, yes, it's a prophecy. He was from the future. He knew it was going to happen. But we can also just say that in 2026 we are simply repeating American history. Because when you actually look at what was happening in America in 1896 when Lockwood wrote the Last President, it is almost disorienting how familiar everything feels. Because in 1896 we had a country that had just come through a massive economic collapse and there was a massive wealth discrepancy. This was the yielded age There is also a TV show based on that if you want to go watch that. But regular people in America were watching wealth be consolidated at the very tippity top of society. Meanwhile their farms were being foreclosed, their wages were being crushed. They felt like the entire political and economic system was rigged against them, which honestly, it kind of was. Again, true story that we're dealing with now. Meanwhile, the world was experiencing rapid change in terms of industry. There was rapid industrialization and innovation that was dramatically changing the job landscape and career pathways for young people. It was changing wages forever. So everybody in the world was having to adapt to that. And so around this time, then in walks a populist candidate. This is a true story. He's a Democrat. William Jennings Bryan, he was this unhinged, crazy outsider that terrified the establishment in D.C. in America. But he electrified normal Americans. He made them feel empowered. He made them feel like they had a chance to stand up against the man, like he was their voice up in Washington. And that candidate, William Jennings Bryan, he was the inspiration behind Lockwood's protagonist in the book, the Last President. President. So all around the country, which Lockwood writes about, this is like in real American history, protests were firing off as angry, disgruntled Americans were standing up to this big business, big government. The anarchist and socialist movements really took hold around that time. Like the unrest in the country was just incredibly, incredibly significant. And essentially Americans, in large part thanks to this political outsider who ran I think three times for President. He never won though. They started to realize how rigged the system was and how fragile the institutions truly were. Plus they were all pitted against each other. Cities were burning. Protests were taking hold again, like you heard about at the top of the episode. Like everybody protesting and marching down fifth Avenue. That was real. And so I'm thinking about all of this as I'm looking into his book. I'm like, oh my gosh, like that sounds familiar. Like I like, listen to this paragraph from the book. This starts one of the chapters. The fateful year of 99 upon its coming in, found the Republic of Washington in dire and dangerous straits. The commercial and industrial boom had spent its force. And now the frightful evils of a debased currency, coupled with demoralizing effects of rampant paternalism were gradually strangling the land to death. Capital, ever timid and distrustful in such times, hid itself in safe deposit vaults or fled to Europe. Labor, although really hard pressed and lacking the very necessities of life, was loud mouthed and defiant. Socialism and anarchism found Willing ears into which to pour their burning words of hatred and malevolence. And the consequence was that serious rioting broke out in the larger cities of the north, often taxing the capacities of the local authorities to the the utmost. Like, I read that paragraph and I was like, that could literally be written right now. This is something that would, like, come into my inbox from a substacker that I subscribed to, and I would not think anything of it. And yet that was written in 1896. So all of this to say I'm looking at all of this. I'm, you know, hearing, oh, my God, Lockwood was this, you know, prophet of sorts. And I'm looking at his novel, his novella, and I see Lockwood writing from a place of fear. You know, he was concerned about what would happen next in this country, considering the political climate that he was living in. And he was extremely exploring what could happen if this outsider that he was watching campaigned throughout all of these years, if an outsider like William Jennings Bryan actually got into office. And in my opinion, he did what great authors do best, which was observing the world around him and writing about it, spinning a tail based on those observations. And I think what we can take away from all of this is that maybe the political landscape that we have found ourselves in today that feels so eerily similar to what he was writing about in the late 1800s, one that can feel so volatile and hopeless, like, the end is near. Everybody's talking about, you know, 250 years. That's when a republic falls. This is the end of democracy. It's the end of America. That actually, it's just something that previous generations have already experienced and they have already survived. And in my opinion, the question that Lockwood was asking throughout this entire novella was, when does a democracy, or can a democracy ever become too divided and too distrustful to the point that it is not able to save itself? And it's kind of unfortunate, it's a black pill moment, because his book actually answers the question. And he answers it with a resounding yes, like a country can become too divided to save itself. He ends the book with a capitol literally being blown up. He's saying, like, it will end at this point of time, which is not really the message that we wanna hear if we are relating this to the modern world. But the good thing is, the good thing is in actual American history, the Capitol wasn't blown up. That didn't happen. We stared into the abyss. We stared into this destruction. We fought to come back, and we're still here in 2020. Now, is our country perfect? Absolutely not. But it is still standing. And there are still good people that are fighting for the values of our country and fighting for what they believe an America of tomorrow can look like, who want to see America and all of its ideals survive. And that is a very positive thing for me to think about. And so tying this all back together with the time travel and the profits and Baron Trump, all of that. Like if Lockwood was actually a prophet, if he was writing about Barron Trump and what happens when Trump is president, then maybe he would have written about what actually happened. He would have written about that. Or maybe he actually is a prophet and we just have another thing coming. He was like, all right, that didn't happen in the 1800s, but get ready for 2026. So either way, let's hold onto our hats because things are brewing. That's all I know.
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Host: Brett Cooper
Theme: Exploring viral conspiracy theories about Barron Trump, time travel, and how historical coincidences reflect deeper cultural anxieties. The episode blends analysis of internet lore, historical fiction, and present-day American politics to consider whether we’re truly living through unprecedented times—or simply repeating history.
This episode dives into the viral internet conspiracy theory asserting that Barron Trump is a time traveler, with intriguing links to historical fiction, Nikola Tesla, and present-day events. Brett Cooper unpacks how these theories blend fact and fiction, examines their cultural significance, and draws parallels between contemporary American instability and events from more than a century ago. The episode closes with a thoughtful reflection on historical cycles, resilience, and what fiction (and memes) say about our era.
"Name me one time traveler. It does not exist."
— Brett Cooper, echoing Lara Trump (05:28)
"His name is Don...He’s the mentor, the man who is helping guide Barron on these adventures…And also in the book, the Trump family…is of German descent, much like our modern-day Trumps…"
— Brett Cooper (07:15)
"You don't think that Nikola Tesla...manipulated electromagnetism which had that you can in theory bend time, light and space…he didn’t find anything? A bunch of bs."
— Guest/TikTok Clip (10:01)
"Imagine being so intelligent that people think you are in contact with aliens."
— Anonymous commenter (paraphrased by Brett) (12:33)
"Like, I saw all of this. I was like, oh my god, I'm literally going crazy...I understand how people online lose their minds because this is all so crazy."
— Brett Cooper (19:50)
"Like I read that paragraph and I was like, that could literally be written right now...Yet, that was written in 1896."
— Brett Cooper (24:45)
"It’s not really the message we want to hear if we are relating this to the modern world, but the good thing is, in actual American history, the Capitol wasn’t blown up. That didn’t happen. We stared into the abyss…We fought to come back and we’re still here."
— Brett Cooper (25:50)
Confronting Absurdity with Humor:
“Name me one time traveler. It does not exist.” — (05:28)
Eerie Parallels to Historical Fiction:
“You can see the covers of the books here…first one was called Barron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey…” — (07:00)
Bridging Pop Culture:
"This reminds me of a really fun time traveling TV show that I watched many years ago...Timeless. If you like this kind of stuff, go check it out.” — (21:24)
Brett Cooper concludes that as wild as the Barron Trump/Time Traveler saga may seem, it reveals less about secret technologies and more about the persistent American fascination with cycles, prophecies, and the fear—and hope—that history repeats itself. By recentering on what’s really relevant, Brett encourages listeners to see today’s anxieties as part of a much larger and ultimately survivable story:
“…maybe the political landscape that we have found ourselves in today…is just something previous generations have already experienced and survived.” (25:45)
Summary prepared by The Brett Cooper Show Summarizer™ | May 2026