A comedian posing as Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., spoke with President Trump over the phone about a number hot topics as he was aboard Air Force One, according to an audio recording.
Comedian John Melendez, who hosts the podcast “The Stuttering John,” claims to have gotten through to the president while he was aboard Air Force One. According to audio of the call, the two discussed a number of issues including the impending Supreme Court vacancy and the controversial family border separations.
“This is how easy it is to infiltrate the administration,” Melendez, who used to be a regular part of the Howard Stern show where Trump was a frequent guest, said during a podcast episode which features the audio.
During the call, a voice that sounds identical to Trump’s, can be heard saying, “Hi Bob. How are you, congratulations on everything, we’re proud of you. Congratulations, great job.”
Posing as the New Jersey senator, Melendez asks Trump what he should tell his constituents in regards to the current immigration crisis.
“So Bob, let me just tell you: I want to be able to take care of the situation every bit as much as anybody else, at the top level. I’d like to do the larger solution rather than the smaller solution; they’re doing them step by step. I think we can do the whole thing,” the voice purported to be the president responds.
Melendez also asked about the soon-to-be vacant Supreme Court seat.
“I have a list of people, I have a big list of people Bob, and we’ll take a look at it and we’re gonna make a decision, I’ll probably make it over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
President Trump also confirmed that the their would be a new Justice appointed over the next “12-14” days.
According to Politico White House correspondent Annie Karni, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly patched the comedian through to the president even after legislative affairs confirmed with Menendez’s office that the senator was not the one on the phone.
More on sloppy protocol: Legislative affairs was notified of call, checked with Mendendez COS, who said he was not trying to reach POTUS. Leg affairs said kill the call. It was patched through, however, reportedly by Kushner. https://t.co/OnLDLmUK7t
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) June 29, 2018
Melendez claimed he originally called the White House attempting to speak to Trump on his podcast as part of a prank. After a couple of back-and-forth discussions with staffers, including Kushner, his call was transferred to the president.
The White House did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
