On Friday, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) asserted that an unidentified "incompetent personal advisor" had persuaded President Donald Trump to continue pursuing a controversial fund that critics have described as a "slush fund," setting off a wave of speculation about the advisor's identity.

Tillis made the remarks in response to an earlier post from Trump, in which the president claimed that "there has never been a group of people treated so badly in our Nation's history," referring to January 6 defendants and asserting they should be "paid back." Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack on his first day in office in January 2025.

"The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," posted Tillis. "While I never disagreed that the Biden Administration pursued a number of vindictive prosecutions related to January 6, the criminals who assaulted police officers and defiled our nation's Capitol are not 'great American patriots' who are 'victims of government abuse.' Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government."

Tillis further explained that he and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) had been collaborating with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to dismantle the fund — an effort that puts two senior Republican senators at odds with a Republican president over a fund the president has championed. "He has been forthright, thoughtful and patient," Tillis wrote of Blanche. "It's a shame his confirmation has hit a snag only because an incompetent personal advisor to the President refuses to amend the bogus settlement."

The comment immediately triggered speculation online about the advisor's identity. Attorney and Democratic congressional candidate George Conway, formerly married to Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump's top first-term advisors, mused: "Is there a prediction market play on who the 'incompetent personal advisor' is?"

One widely shared response captured the prevailing sentiment, guessing "John Barron" — a name long suspected to be a pseudonym used by Trump himself, notably for calling into C-SPAN and other media outlets.

Numerous social media accounts agreed that the "incompetent personal advisor" was the president. "JFC," declared one popular political account. "The 'incompetent personal advisor' is TRUMP!"

"Incompetent personal advisor," noted another user. "President Trump famously almost never takes advice."

"Is this 'advisor' physically inside of Trump's head right now?" wondered another. "Answer: Yes, it's Trump."

Others were more blunt in their assessments.

Alternative theories circulated as well. Some suggested the advisor could be "anyone from that garbage administration," another Republican Party figure, or Boris Epshteyn, who has served as Trump's personal senior counsel since 2025 and whose team handled Trump's IRS lawsuit.

Many respondents also took issue with Tillis himself, arguing that he was using the euphemism to deflect responsibility away from the president.

"You've already pissed off Trump," said one. "Why are you still deflecting his responsibility here?"

"Lmao dude," said another. "YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONDING TO THE PRESIDENT HERE. THIS IS HIS POSITION. Why are you giving him the benefit of 'bad advice?' My god you are pathetic."

"FFS," one asked, "Why must you still genuflect to the cult leader?"