So picture this—Donald Trump doesn’t just pop up in 2016. Nope. He zips back to the late 1700s and becomes the very first President of the United States. Wild, right?
Lately, folks online have been running with this idea like it’s real pipe dream stuff. They point to 19th century novels—Baron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey and The Last President—written ages ago. These books feature a rich kid named Baron Trump, plus a mentor called “Don,” portals, Fifth Avenue riots, even a cabinet member named Pence. People are like, “Coincidence?” Maybe. Or maybe… time travel?
Then there are those TikTok videos and a recent People article that say these stories are blowing up again—over 5.9 million views, no big deal. Some fans say the books are proof Trump is a time traveler. Others just think it’s one more wacky internet rabbit hole.
Okay, but what would America look like today if he actually was our first president—like born and bred political pioneer?
First, the whole “America First” thing might’ve kicked off almost instantly. No centuries of tradition, no slow-introductory presidents. Just a wealthy, outspoken, unfiltered guy steering things from Day One. Maybe trade wars start in the 1800s. Imagine tariffs on tea—or whatever coffee was back then. His charm and chaos could’ve totally shaped early foreign policy, possibly even war strategies. Instead of washing our hands of global stuff, maybe trade disputes with Britain never ended. Who knows?
Maybe the founding fathers would’ve side eyed him. I can just see a frustrated Ben Franklin going, “Could you tone it down, Don?” Instead of measured, eloquent speeches, maybe the Gettysburg Address would’ve sounded more like a tweetstorm—sharp, quick, and straight to the point.
But there’d be benefits too. He’d energize people—campaign rallies in horse drawn carriages, crowds going wild, chanting “Make Independence Great Again.” Could be fun. Or chaotic. Probably both.
Fast forward to today, and America might be a totally different beast. Maybe cities are more branded, buildings with massive signs Trump Bank, Trump Mill. Economy built on real estate, deals, and bold promises, rather than slow burn growth. Who needs tradition when you’ve got flair?
The big questions are: would democracy survive? Would checks and balances even stick if the personality cult started in year one? Would our founding texts even be written the same way? And what about that Pence character—still just as faithful, I guess.
It’s all just fun “what if” stuff, but it stirs the imagination. Do we want a fiery disruptor from the jump, or someone a bit more… grandma style steady?
Anyway, it’s weirdly entertaining to juggle history and sci fi. What do you think—would we even call it the United States anymore, if Trump was there from the get go?