Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to remove quotes attributed to the owner of Real America’s Voice, Robert Sigg, saying he is investigating whether the call was a prank and criticizing network staffers. A Daily Beast reporter had a conversation by text with a person who identified themselves as Sigg, on a number public records show was once associated with Sigg—but a spokesperson for Real America’s Voice said that it was not Sigg and is not his current number.
Donald Trump sounded so odd during a phone interview that aired on fringe-right channel Real America’s Voice on Thursday night that it sparked online speculation about a prank caller using AI.
But the ex-president doesn’t seem to have issues with the call: He was promoting it on his Truth Social platform Friday morning, highlight his comments about “crooked Joe Biden.”
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Trump has one of the most recognizable voices in the word, but he sounded choppy and stilted in his conversation with journalist John Solomon and co-host Amanda Head during the interview.
After clips of the interview were shared on social media speculation began pouring in—including from many prominent conservatives —that artificial intelligence might be involved.
“This just sounds bizarre,” Matt Whitlock, former Senate staffer and Trump supporter commented, suggesting some theories. “1) he’s very sick 2) this is AI 3) they had the staffer with the best impression handle this interview,” he speculated.”
Matt Wolking of the Never Back Down PAC, which supports Trump rival Ron DeSantis, tweeted: “I don't know who did this interview, but it does not sound like Donald Trump.”
Solomon—who wrote for Newsweek/The Daily Beast years ago, has been closely tied to the president since early in Trump’s tenure in the White House—said there was never any doubt that it was Trump on the line.
“It’s not AI, it was President Trump,” Solomon, a former Fox News contributor, told The Daily Beast Thursday night. “You can call the staff and check with them yourself.”
The Just The News founder said he set up the interview with Trump’s staff, discussed in advance the topics they would talk about, and “called them at the right location.”
The Trump campaign did not respond to The Daily Beast’s questions about why he sounded so unlike himself.
