A 19th-Century Book Series Resurfaces Conspiracy Theories About The Trump Family

A 19th-century book series featuring a character called Baron Trump and his guide named Don has resurfaced conspiracy theories involving former president Donald Trump and his youngest son, Barron. Time travel talk was reignited after a viral TikTok on Tuesday, which has since been viewed more than 5.9 million times. The discussion centered around Ingersoll Lockwood's 1888 publication Baron Trump's Marvelous Underground Journey and the 1896 novel The Last President.

Lockwood's stories have become a hot topic among conspiracy theorists, especially since claims have emerged suggesting that the Trump family possesses a time machine. This speculation gained traction after Donald Trump entered the White House in 2016. In a new TikTok video, user mattyicerants shared their thoughts, stating, "I've thought about this every day for the past two years: In 1888, a man named Ingersoll Lockwood wrote a book called Baron Trump's Marvelous Underground Journey, where a 10-year-old boy named Baron Trump has a mentor named Don, a wealthy man living on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Together, they travel to Russia to find a portal to a magical underground world."

The TikTok user also pointed out that Lockwood lived in New York City during the same period as Serbian-American scientist Nikola Tesla, who is often suggested to have been a time traveler by some conspiracy theorists. Additionally, the character's name, Baron, which has roots in the Germanic name "Wilhelm Heinrich Sebastian Von Troomp," is cited as further evidence of time travel. In real life, former President Trump is a descendant of German immigrants to the U.S.

In the novels, Baron and Don discover a portal to a different world, prompting speculation about whether Lockwood was alluding to time travel. One comment on the TikTok post, which garnered 35.4k likes, reflects this notion: "The thing about time travel is that if it’s ever to exist, then it already does."

Pence and The Last President

The last book of the series, The Last President, also known as 1900, adds further intrigue to the conspiracy theories surrounding the Trump family. Amid the political upheaval during and after Trump's presidency, some believe that this book was a forewarning of events to come. In the story, New York City's East Side is described as being "in a state of uproar" in November after an unexpected candidate is elected amidst strong opposition.

The tumultuous election of Bryan, supported by "mobs of vast size organizing under anarchists and socialists," serves as the catalyst for chaos. These groups threaten to "plunder and despoil the houses of the rich who have wronged and oppressed them for so many years." Interestingly, this mob plans to march to a hotel on Fifth Avenue, which is now the site of Trump Tower.

Moreover, the president in the book appoints a cabinet member named Pence, which coincidentally mirrors the real-life vice presidency of Mike Pence under Donald Trump. This striking similarity has led to online comments questioning the mathematical possibility of such coincidences, with one user stating, "Too many coincidences is mathematically impossible," receiving over 16,000 votes.

Furthermore, others have linked this time travel theory to the popular TV show The Simpsons, noting that the show has a history of seemingly predicting future events. One TikTok user mused, "Could that be who is writing for The Simpsons?" Another commented, "Sounds like Ingersoll would use the Trump family as inspiration since they were alive at the same time."

While conspiracy theories abound regarding time travel, Lockwood's intriguing background and the coincidental nature of his stories continue to captivate audiences. Lockwood was born and raised in New York and passed away in 1918, 18 years after the publication of The Last President. As one TikTok user aptly put it, "I came to TikTok for my usual dog videos and thirst traps, and now I'm over here doing a research project like I’m back in college."