Trump's Alleged 'Burner Phones' And Seven-Hour Gap In White House Call Records On January 6th Inspire Memes Across The Web

Reporting by CBS and The Washington Post today on former President Donald Trump's supposed use of "burner phones" is causing quite a storm online. Based on official White House call logs handed over to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th insurrection, reports show that from 11:17 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. on January 6th, no official calls came out of or were placed to the White House during that timeframe.

This, however, conflicts with statements made by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Mike Lee, Congressman Jim Jordan and several other Republicans in Congress, who publicly said they spoke with the former President on the phone during the insurrection.

BREAKING: CBS News and the Washington Post have obtained White House records turned over to the House, which show a gap in President Donald Trump's phone logs of seven hours and 37 minutes on January 6. https://t.co/52MSlvy5f9

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 29, 2022

Since those calls aren’t represented on the official call log, it indicates that Trump, reportedly, used another, private channel to contact those people. The Committee is actively investigating the President’s activities during the storming of the Capitol in its ongoing investigation.

The nearly eight-hour gap in phone records led many online to compare President Donald Trump to President Richard Nixon, who famously had an 18-minute gap in phone records back in 1973, created when he deleted tape in order to conceal evidence in the Watergate scandal. Some pointed out that the gap in Trump’s call history, which occurred during an insurrection that he was attempted to be impeached over, is significantly larger than Nixon’s.

"I have never obstructed justice…I am not a crook."
-- Richard M. Nixon, Nov. 17, 1973

"I have no idea what a burner phone is, to the best of my knowledge I have never even heard the term."
-- Donald J. Trump, March 29, 2022

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 29, 2022

Who among us hasn't used burner phones when engaged in lawful & honorable activities?

"The House panel is investigating whether Trump communicated that day through backchannels, phones of aides or personal disposable phones, known as 'burner phones'…"
https://t.co/e4Ty0Bnn0j

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 29, 2022

Others laughed at the idea of an American president using a “burner phone” or thinking about using one. Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, shared that the burners were purportedly purchased at CVS with a few hundred dollars in cash.

The phones seized were not burned phones. Rather, they were old family phones, 12 of them belonging to my wife and children. I kept them because they all contain family photos going back 2 decades. According to witnesses, Trump associates bought 3 burner phones at CVS. https://t.co/28POe9Rv8i

— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) March 29, 2022

In a statement in response to The Washington Post story, the former President claimed to not know what a burner phone is, telling reporters that he has “never heard the term.” Many online doubted this shortly after.

"I have no idea what a burner phone is, to the best of my knowledge I have never even heard the term."

Said the guy who admitted to taking numerous phone calls with members of Congress on Jan. 6th, but just happens to have a 7 hour & 37-minute gap of calls.🤦‍♂️#DemVoice1 #Fresh pic.twitter.com/cs4VSwC07g

— The Jewish Ginger Resister (@JewishResister) March 29, 2022

In memes, some also speculated about what Trump’s burner phone may have looked like or who he may have asked to help him arrange their purchase.

Trump's burner phone pic.twitter.com/rCVuYN3J7I

— Adam Frazier (@AdamFrazier) March 29, 2022

YOU GOT RID OF THOSE BURNER PHONES, RIGHT? pic.twitter.com/YzZ2dAJHu8

— Ivan the K™ (@IvanTheK) March 29, 2022

Burner Phones? pic.twitter.com/jflVHGL75P

— BrokenPromisedLand🇺🇸 (@VoteAngryNow) March 29, 2022

Donald Trump is not the only one whose January 6th phone records are under investigation. A text chain between Mark Meadows and Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in which Ginni Thomas called for the overturning of the 2020 election and makes a number of biblical references, came under scrutiny this week.

My hot take: Ginni Thomas was involved in a coup, her husband should resign, Trump used burner phones on 1.6, and the DOJ is slow walking enforcing subpoenas. https://t.co/kg0rxzOieT

— Philosopher Always Running™ 🏃🏽 (@chrispanza) March 29, 2022

As for Trump, he recently scored a hole-in-one during a round of golf and promptly put out a press release about it, leading many to mock him online among the recent news.

Which is less believable--Trump hitting a hole-in-one or not knowing what a burner phone is?

— Joshua Holland (@JoshuaHol) March 29, 2022

Here's Donald Trump's statement on the hole-in-one he made over the weekend playing with Ernie Els, Ken Duke, Gene Sauers and Mike Goodes. Trump says it was a 5-iron from 181 which "sailed magnificently into a rather strong wind, with approximately 5 feet of cut" pic.twitter.com/vnUYBV1PFS

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 28, 2022

As the January 6th investigation continues, expect more information about Trump’s behavior on that day to unfold and more memes, discourse and jokes stemming from revelations in the press.