Could Donald Trump and his family be time travelers, steering America’s fate as foretold in a forgotten 19th-century children’s book? That’s the jaw-dropping theory gripping conspiracy enthusiasts, sparked by Ingersoll Lockwood’s 1893 novel, Baron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey. With uncanny parallels to the Trump family, this obscure tale has the internet buzzing with claims of prophecy, time travel, and hidden truths. Buckle up—this story is as bizarre as it gets.
A Book Too Close for Comfort
Written by American lawyer and author Ingersoll Lockwood, Baron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey follows a wealthy young aristocrat named Wilhelm Heinrich Sebastian Von Troomp—better known as Baron Trump—who lives in “Castle Trump” with his loyal dog, Bulger. Sound familiar? The name alone, nearly identical to Barron Trump, Donald and Melania’s youngest son, who’s currently studying at NYU’s Stern School of Business, is enough to raise eyebrows. But the coincidences don’t stop there.
In the novel, Baron, bored with his lavish life, embarks on a fantastical quest guided by a mentor named Don Fum, a “learned Spaniard.” While “Don” is a Spanish honorific meaning “Mr.,” conspiracy theorists point to it as a nod to Donald Trump himself. The fictional Baron’s journey takes him to Russia, where he seeks a portal to an underground world filled with strange creatures and lost civilizations. Some draw parallels to Donald Trump’s real-world interactions with Russia, particularly his recent talks with President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine invasion.
Eerie Echoes of Today
The book’s setting and themes are where things get downright spooky. Baron’s adventures hint at “secret truths” and “ancient civilizations,” which some interpret as metaphors for government bunkers or political cover-ups. Others see the underground journeys and menacing creatures as symbolic of Trump’s vow to “drain the swamp” in Washington. “Too many coincidences is mathematically impossible,” one Reddit user exclaimed, reflecting the fervor online.
Lockwood’s 1896 follow-up, 1900: Or, The Last President, cranks the intrigue up a notch. It depicts a chaotic New York City—Trump’s hometown—where a controversial outsider wins a presidential election, sparking protests on Fifth Avenue, home to Trump Tower today. The new president even appoints a man named Pence to his cabinet, mirroring Mike Pence’s role in Trump’s administration. For conspiracy buffs, this feels less like fiction and more like a blueprint for reality. One commenter quipped, “Wow, so Back to the Future was real too?”
Time Travel or Coincidence?
The internet’s obsession with this theory exploded in 2017 when Trump took office, with forums like Reddit and 4chan dissecting every detail. Some even tie the books to Nikola Tesla, claiming Trump’s uncle, John Trump, had access to the inventor’s rumored time-travel research. But skeptics are quick to pump the brakes. Snopes points out that the novels also feature fantastical elements like giant turtles and a “little smiling man frozen in time,” which have no clear Trump connection. Newsweek notes that Lockwood, a New Yorker himself, likely drew on his surroundings, with Fifth Avenue being a prominent street even in the 1890s.
The entire plot revolves around a children’s book produced in 1893 by American writer and lawyer Ingersoll Lockwood.
Oddly, while spelled with one less ‘r’, the novel is titled Baron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey, and it follows the exploits of a little aristocratic boy and his dog, Bulger, who live in ‘Castle Trump.
Why the Hype?
The Baron Trump novels, including the earlier Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger (1889), were obscure until Trump’s presidency thrust them into the spotlight. Their mix of sci-fi and fantasy, inspired by hits like Alice in Wonderland, feels whimsical yet oddly prescient. As one TikTok user put it, “I came for dog videos and now I’m doing a research project.” The books’ resurgence, fueled by viral posts and even Joe Rogan’s musings on his podcast, shows how a 130-year-old story can ignite modern imaginations.
In the book, the character’s assignment takes him to Russia, implying even another probable similarity given Trump’s recent conversations with Russia’s President Putin regarding the invasion of Ukraine.
Even more spooky, the volumes appear to prophesy a period of intense political turmoil in Baron’s country.
Prophecy or Just a Wild Story?
So, is Donald Trump a time traveler, or is this just a case of history’s weird coincidences? While the parallels are striking—Baron vs. Barron, Castle Trump vs. Trump Tower, Russia connections, and a Pence-like figure—the idea of a time machine is a stretch. As Politico notes, coincidences are common in literature, like the novella Futility predicting the Titanic’s sinking. Still, for those who see destiny in every detail, Lockwood’s books are proof that truth is stranger than fiction. Whether you buy the theory or not, one thing’s clear: the Trump family’s knack for staying in the headlines is timeless.
