Five years ago, I was part of a discussion panel on the popular Morning Joe talk show in the US when the issue of Donald Trump came up. A rowdy debate erupted and I cheerfully joked that Trump was a great businessman “barring a few bankruptcies” — and blessed with charisma even “with that hairpiece”. A few minutes later, Trump telephoned the show and demanded an on-air apology. Apparently, he was not just upset about the bankruptcy quip (he wanted to clarify that he has never personally gone bankrupt but “only” seen some of his companies go bust); he was also angry about the hair joke.
So, as we sat around the table on the TV set, one of the show’s hosts read a straight-faced legal apology to camera. “He might sue,” a reporter later explained to me, as I squirmed with embarrassment and wondered whether to laugh or cry.
Until recently, I viewed this episode as just an example of how thin-skinned some tycoons can be (and a sign that I need to take more care with early-morning hair jokes — for which I apologise, Mr Trump). But, these days, that little exchange is assuming more sinister undertones. For as the Trump bandwagon continues to gather pace, one of the most notable features of his campaign is the extraordinary level of aggression he displays towards his critics. And that raises big questions, not only about Trump’s temperament but also over the nature of political discourse in the age of social media.