Radio host fooled by Trump impersonator

A popular radio host in Israel on Monday was forced to apologize for his “excessive enthusiasm” after being tricked by an impersonator of US President Donald Trump on his radio program.

During his daily show on Army Radio, Erel Segal informed his listeners that Trump was on the line aboard Air Force One while making his way to Israel.

When he asked “Trump” if he had a message to deliver to the people of Israel, Segel was told “I would just like to convey that America stands behind you 100 percent. 100 percent.”

“I will not impose anything [on Israel]. I am coming to mostly listen, mostly listen. And there a lot of different people with a lot of very good ideas and I would like to hear both sides,” the Trump impersonator said.

It was not immediately clear who played the prank on the radio station.

“[It was] a mixture of excessive enthusiasm and a well-done prank ([including] calls from the White House, numbers, etc.),” Segal said, explaining that he had been in contact with people he believed to be representatives of the US president in the run-up to the phone call.

The Trump impersonator mimicked not only the president’s voice but also his talking style and comments he has made on efforts to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

“I would love to make a deal. I can’t promise I’ll make a deal. It’s going to be a very big deal if I can make the deal but I can’t promise anything. So right now, I would like to just listen,” fake Trump said.

“There is definitely a deal to be made. I don’t know if I am the man to do it but I would love to make a deal like that.”

Later, elaborating on some of the people whose advice he was considering, the Trump impostor mentioned a right-wing former lawmaker from the ruling Likud party.

“I just read an idea by an individual by the name of Moshe Feiglin. I really liked what I read. I though it was very insightful. But a lot of people have a lot of different ideas, I don’t know who I am going to go with and I am here to listen and I think a deal should be made but both parties need to be willing partners if they want to make a deal,” the non-Trump said.

Following the mention of Feiglin, Segal seemed to realize that he had been fooled, saying “Mr. President, thank you for talking with us” before hanging up

After being ridiculed on social media, Segal acknowledged his mistake in a post on Twitter.

“I was a sucker,” he said.

Segel said that when he finds out who was behind the ruse, “I will take revenge.”

https://soundcloud.com/glz-radio/i4bnjuhouw6j