Comedian prank calls Donald Trump; airs conversation on podcast

US President Donald Trump. A prank caller tried contacting US President Donald Trump while he was aboard Air Force One. (File)

A comedian pretending to be New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez made a prank call to US President Donald Trump. Posing as the senator, comedian John Melendez said he contacted Trump during which the President discussed a range of policy topics on Wednesday night while he was on the presidential plane.

Melendez, known for his six-year stint on “The Howard Stern Show” as ‘Stuttering John’ aired a recording of the conversation on his podcast in which a voice that appears to be Trump’s can be heard. “You went through a tough, tough situation and I don’t think a very fair situation,” Trump said, reported AFP.

In the audio recording of the call, the two men can be heard conversing on a range of topics, moving from immigration to replacing Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is set to retire from the US Supreme Court.

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The comedian said he called the White House pretending to be an aide to the senator and was ultimately put in touch with the President on Air Force One, in a scenario that raises questions about protocol governing access to the commander in chief.

The White House did not comment on the call, but neither denied that the comedian’s account was false.