SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

My almost interactions with Trump

I’ve had two kinda sorta interactions with Donald Trump.

One was during the 1990’s, and I had founded a non-profit organization called the Center for Living in Los Angeles. It provided non-medical support services to people living with AIDS and other life challenging illnesses.

A bit later we opened a center in Manhattan, and I would travel back and forth from LA to NYC twice a month. Several supporters in Florida decided to open a Center in Palm Beach, and Marla Maples, who was married to Trump at the time, offered Mar-A-Lago as a place where they could hold their first fundraiser. I was told all the details were handled, all was good, I didn’t need to come.

I was at my friend Bruce’s in Manhattan on the day of the event, when his assistant came in to say that Donald Trump’s office was on the line. Mr. Trump wanted to know what time I would be arriving in Palm Beach. I said, “Please tell him I’m not coming. My little daughter is in Los Angeles and I have to go back there tonight. But I’ve been assured that all the details are handled.”

Five minutes later the assistant came back in the room and said, “Mr. Trump says that the only reason they can use Mar-A-Lago is because ‘My wife wants to meet that woman,’ and if I wasn’t coming, the event was called off.”

Obviously I hightailed it down to Palm Beach, where Marla Maples, I must say, was an extraordinarily gracious hostess to some very sick men that night. I’ve thought about the incident many times since, as you can imagine. It certainly showed Trump’s way of getting what he wants.

I would never in those days have thought Trump would become the gigantic global factor he has turned into. My political opinions about that are clear, and articulated elsewhere. My reflections tonight are lighter but in their own way pretty telling.

The second incident was during the 2016 election cycle. I received a phone call from a producer at Access Hollywood telling me that I too had been mentioned on the infamous pussy tape! Apparently Trump had said to Billy Bush, “So tell me about Marianne Williamson.” Billy made some generous comments about my work, to which Trump responded, “Really? Is she hot?” And Bush responded, “Nah, she’s old.” (I think I was about 50 when the tape was made.)

The producer asked if I wanted a copy of the tape, and for some reason I turned him down. Damn, I wish I hadn’t! I think it would be hilarious to listen to now.

Both stories were obviously minor incidents, but they’ve stayed in my mind. I watched the movie The Apprentice and found it fascinating. For better or for worse, we are living a chapter of history that will long be remembered. The more we can understand the man at the center of it, perhaps the better we can deal.