Donald Trump’s obsession with Debra Messing detailed in new book

By /


Donald Trump’s “obsession” with actress Debra Messing has been detailed in a new book for which the former president was interviewed multiple times.

Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett took America through the looking glass, a new book written by Variety co-editor Ramin Setoodeh, goes behind the scenes of the reality competition that turned businessman Trump into a celebrity. Trump was the show’s host for 14 seasons beginning in 2004.

One of the most unexpected elements of the book, released June 18, reveals how Trump spoke about Will and grace The star Messing repeatedly during an interview for the book, asking about her and revealing his attraction to her.

Ahead of Apprentice in WonderlandFollowing its release, journalist Yashar Ali shared excerpts from the book in a Substack article titled “Trump’s Obsession with Debra Messing.” It is alleged that Messing once praised Trump for “saving” NBC, which was airing his two hit shows at the time.

Donald Trump, Debra Messing
On the left, Donald Trump is pictured in West Palm Beach, Florida, on June 14, 2024. On the right, Debra Messing is seen in New York on June 10, 2024. Excerpts from a new book describe Trump as…


Joe Raedle/Getty Images;/Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Assuming the presumptive Republican nominee’s thoughts on Messing, Ali wrote that Trump “admitted to spending time at the White House monitoring Messing’s Twitter feed,” “bringing up Messing repeatedly without prompting during multiple interviews with Setoodeh” and “admitted to Setoodeh that he had a crush on Messing years ago.”

It was also stated that Trump would talk about Messing’s “beautiful red hair” and describe her as “quite attractive” on “several occasions.” He also portrayed her as a traitor. After praising him and his show created by Mark Burnett, she is now turning against the former president.

News week contacted representatives for Messing and Trump via email for comment.

Their first meeting

“Trump still remembers the day he met Messing – who played Grace Adler, a self-centered New York interior designer on NBC – back in the days of The apprentice“is the second season of,” reads an excerpt from Setoodeh’s book.

“‘So I’m in line,’ Trump recalled. ‘The show had gone to No. 1, and we’re ready to make the first move, which I’ve never heard of.’ As a new TV star, he quickly caught up with Hollywood lingo: upfronts are an annual presentation that networks do in May, introducing their stars to charm advertisers before the next TV season. “And Debra Messing. came to me. had a show around the same time.

“‘She came up to me with her beautiful red hair,’ Trump said of Messing, dwelling a little too long on that detail. ‘And she said, ‘Sir, I love you!’ Thank God for you! You save the network and you save my show “Because in this world, which I know a lot about now, when you have a hit, an introduction, it’s a huge difference. “

Setoodeh writes about how he got Trump to notice this sitcom Will and grace broadcast before The apprentice and this would not have benefited from the latter’s audience performance.

“An entry or an exit,” Trump then clarified.

The excerpt continues: “‘She was so grateful,’ Trump said. ‘She said, ‘I can’t thank you enough.’ Do you believe it? I watched her. And I said: ‘She’ I would do anything for me. Access Hollywood adhesive tape.

“‘She was so effusive,’ Trump concluded. ‘And when I see the hatred coming out of her mouth today, it’s incredible.'”

Messing has been a vocal critic of Trump since he embarked on his presidential campaign for the 2016 election. In 2020, Messing shared a social media post in which she compared the then-president to Adolf Hitler.

“I can’t shake the hypocrisy”

Trump’s alleged fixation, according to the excerpt, was based on the former real estate mogul’s feeling that Messing had ultimately betrayed him with his public stunts.

He reads another part of the book on the subject: “Here in New York, in his first months outside the White House, Trump has not moved. Messing is on his list of traitors, and he can’t shake the hypocrisy – in his mind – that she once supported him as a reality TV star.

Trump reportedly said Messing was “begging to be accepted” as she told the businessman what he “did” for her show and NBC “will never be forgotten.”

“Well,” he proclaims, “it was forgotten. She was just a mean person. She and many others. So many people have come up to me over the years and said, ‘ THANKS ! “Once I ran for office, that stopped,” Trump reportedly said.

Trump’s ‘crush’ on disorder

“The next time we speak, Trump will bring up Messing again and he will confirm something he only hinted at during our last meeting,” Setoodeh writes. “During the first years of The apprenticeTrump even had a crush on Will and graceShe’s the leading lady. Perhaps that’s why he can’t get rid of the bitterness that now exists between them. A former president failing to win over a star almost sounds like the premise for a cheesy romantic comedy, but for Trump, Messing’s rejection remains a sharp dagger in his heart.

“‘This Debra Messing, who I always found very attractive, but that doesn’t matter, of course…’ Their social media feuds continue to live rent-free in her mind. ‘Debra Messing was so grateful,’ he said, ‘And then I look at her today, and it’s like she’s a mess.’

“Then he starts asking me whether or not (Messing’s message) Will and grace co-star) Megan Mullally has already betrayed him. While he comes up empty on this front – ridding her of any traitorous behavior for now – he finally says, “You should tell that Debra Messing story.” To me, it’s disgusting.'”

Wearing denim overalls and a straw hat, Trump joined Mullally in singing the theme song to a classic TV show. Green acres together at the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards.