1950's TV episode featured salesman named "Trump" who wants a wall to prevent end of the world
By Christopher Brito
/ CBS News
As President Trump and Democrats feud over funding for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a clip from the 1950s television series "Trackdown" that captured eerie parallels between the show and reality resurfaced. In the episode titled "The End of the World," a sketchy salesman by the name of Walter Trump pitches the idea of building a giant wall, claiming it would protect townspeople from a catastrophic cosmic event.
On Wednesday, "Gravity Falls" creator Alex Hirsch tweeted a part of the episode and it went viral. But it wasn't the first time the video made the rounds. Snopes reported on the authenticity of the clip in 2017 after a portion of the show was uploaded to YouTube and claimed to have "predicted Donald Trump."
What the fresh hell. This is REAL. Filmed in 1958- about a conman who grifts a small town of suckers into building a wall. History not subtle enough for you? GUESS THE GRIFTER'S NAME
(And watch until the end) pic.twitter.com/6FA3p6KC00— Alex Hirsch (@_AlexHirsch) January 9, 2019
CBS News confirmed with its internal archival department that the episode aired on the network May 9, 1958. It was written by the late John Robinson, who's credited on 18 episodes in the "Trackdown" series, which follows the adventures of a Texas Ranger as he "travels the Old West tracking down assorted killers, bank robbers, horse thieves and other evildoers," according to IMDb.
In the clip, Walter Trump, who is played by actor Lawrence Dobkin, claims he's the only one who can save the villagers from meteors by building a wall. Nearly everyone believes him, and fear grips the population. Trump threatens to sue Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman (played by Robert Culp), the only person who openly doubts him.
"I am the only one. Trust me. I can build a wall around your homes that nothing will penetrate," said Trump, whom the narrator describes as the "high priest of fraud." "You ask how do you build that wall. You ask, and I'm here to tell you."
Trump eventually dupes the frightened population into forking over cash to start paying for the wall, and some even team up to rob a bank. At the end of the episode, as Trump tries to depart from the town, he's arrested and then shot by a villager he tried to conspire with.
A full version of the episode has also been uploaded to YouTube.
First published on January 12, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In 1950's TV episode, "Trump" wants to build wall
In the clip, a sketchy salesman named Walter Trump claims he's the only one who can save villagers from disaster by building a wall
updated 2M ago 
Free markets for federal workers affected by shutdown open in D.C. area
Five pop-up food banks are opening in the D.C. area Saturday for federal workers
updated 0M ago 
Missy Elliott is 1st female hip-hop artist inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
The other five songwriters inducted are Yusuf Islam, John Prine, Tom T. Hall, Dallas Austin and Jack Tempchin
1H ago 
Government shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history
The previous record for the longest shutdown occurred during Bill Clinton's presidency
updated 21M ago 
“At what point does this become unsustainable?": Federal workers react to shutdown
"I wish they would understand we're not all living in the Beltway," says one federal employee
updated 23M ago 
Free markets for federal workers affected by shutdown open in D.C. area
Five pop-up food banks are opening in the D.C. area Saturday for federal workers
updated 0M ago
Government shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history
The previous record for the longest shutdown occurred during Bill Clinton's presidency
updated 21M ago
“At what point does this become unsustainable?": Federal workers react to shutdown
"I wish they would understand we're not all living in the Beltway," says one federal employee
updated 23M ago 
Trump floats "path to citizenship" for H-1B visa holders
It's unclear what the president is talking about, as the shutdown fight over the proposed border wall continues
3H ago 
"I just love this island so much": Lin-Manuel Miranda after "Hamilton" debut in Puerto Rico
The award-winning playwright said the musical was a tribute to the island. "I just want it to be proud of me," he told reporters.
9H ago 
Dozens injured in powerful Paris bakery blast
A gas leak apparently caused an explosion that overturned cars and blasted out windows
updated 54M ago 
Ottawa bus crash leaves 3 dead, 23 injured
The accident happened at the Westboro station in a neighborhood west of downtown Ottawa
11H ago 
Oceans are warming dramatically faster, new study warns
Since 1970, the ocean has warmed 40 percent more than previous estimates, scientists say
14H ago 
Facility for migrant kids extends offer letters on the spot amid rapid expansion
Hundreds are needed to staff a Homestead, Florida, shelter that is rapidly expanding
updated 16M ago 
Tributes pour in after tearful Andy Murray announces retirement
"The pain is too much, really, and I don't want to continue playing that way," the tennis champion said at a press conference
18H ago 
Missy Elliott is 1st female hip-hop artist inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
The other five songwriters inducted are Yusuf Islam, John Prine, Tom T. Hall, Dallas Austin and Jack Tempchin
1H ago
"I just love this island so much": Lin-Manuel Miranda after "Hamilton" debut in Puerto Rico
The award-winning playwright said the musical was a tribute to the island. "I just want it to be proud of me," he told reporters.
9H ago 
Megyn Kelly, NBC News reach separation agreement
Kelly was in the second of a three-year contract that reportedly paid her more than $20 million a year
10H ago 
Woodstock founder reveals plans for 50th anniversary festival
Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang has announced an anniversary concert to celebrate "3 Days of Peace & Music" – but it won't be the only one
17H ago 
Behind the scenes: Making of "Hamilton" in Puerto Rico
The performances are part of a three-week run to raise money and awareness for the U.S. territory after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017
20H ago 
SpaceX plans to lay off about 10 percent of workforce
"This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead," the company said
1H ago
Oceans are warming dramatically faster, new study warns
Since 1970, the ocean has warmed 40 percent more than previous estimates, scientists say
14H ago 
SpaceX launches final set of Iridium satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off with a final set of 10 Iridium NEXT communications satellites
16H ago 
Lawmakers demand answers from data providers over sale of location data
A report finds T-Mobile and other providers sold data to third parties
Jan 10 
Emissions rise despite support for green energy
Most Americans say they support renewable energy, but what will it take to get there?
Jan 10 
New York City experiments with health care for all
Plan to provide the poor and uninsured with medical care may amount to a bold policy shift — or a political ploy
15H ago 
Opioid crisis busts coroner's budget
The opioid epidemic has claimed so many lives in a suburban Chicago county, the coroner says his office is running out of money
16H ago 
Painkillers for pets may be adding to opioid epidemic
First-of-its-kind study looks at risks from the increase in opioid prescriptions for pets
16H ago 
Want to prevent deadly diseases? Eat more fiber, study says
A new report shows that lots of grains, vegetables and fruit lowers your risk of dying early from heart disease, cancer, and other deadly diseases
20H ago 
More than 6 million have gotten flu so far this season
The CDC has released its first estimates for this year's flu season
19H ago
SpaceX plans to lay off about 10 percent of workforce
"This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead," the company said
1H ago
New York City experiments with health care for all
Plan to provide the poor and uninsured with medical care may amount to a bold policy shift — or a political ploy
15H ago 
Shutdown means Fed has no idea how GDP is doing
Trump promised 3% GDP growth in his tenure, but the agency that tracks that key economic number is shut down
16H ago 
Shutdown pinches small businesses across U.S.
Fewer tips, construction delays, product-approval hold-ups — all mean less local spending by Uncle Sam
17H ago 
Shutdown could hit federal workers' credit scores
Federal workers are scrimping to avoid being dinged by lenders for missing payments and damaging their credit scores
17H ago 
Teen helped police arrest man accused of kidnapping her
Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, has been charged with killing the parents of Jayme Closs and kidnapping the 13-year-old
14H ago 
Four black men pardoned decades after false rape claim
It took 70 years for the men to get justice after a white woman claimed they raped her in 1949
15H ago 
Neighbor recounts Jayme Closs' words after her escape
Neighbors of suspect Jake Thomas Patterson said Jayme Closs didn't know where she was after escaping his cabin
16H ago
Jayme Closs: "48 Hours" special to focus on the disappearance and return of Wisconsin girl
A look inside the Closs case, the extraordinary stories of other children found, and the the heartache of families with children still missing
15H ago 
"Baby's turning blue!": 911 call reveals moments vegetative patient gives birth
A patient at a long-term care facility gave birth in December, even though she had been in a vegetative state for a decade
14H ago Original Article
