In her new memoir called The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime , legendary actress Shirley MacLaine shared a very wild story about a strange experience she had with Donald Trump back in the 1980s. She recalled an unusual incident that happened when she was checking out an apartment in Manhattan’s 666 Fifth Avenue building.
The encounter, which took place when Trump was establishing himself as a prominent real estate mogul, left MacLaine feeling deeply unsettled. “There was a vacant apartment in that building. I went up to look at it, and walked in because I knew it was available, and he was there. We met in a room where no one else was. In his head, I could see he was undressing himself and me, and I got out of there very fast,” she revealed to People . “Didn’t take the apartment either — and it was too expensive,” she added firmly.
Shirley MacLaine: Do you know why the shark did not bite Donald Trump? … Professional courtesy. — @TheLastWord pic.twitter.com/uqWNxnIfhp
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 17, 2017
During this time, Trump was becoming famous by appearing on big shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show and David Letterman . He was transitioning from just a real estate developer into a well-known public figure. Everything took place in one of his large skyscrapers in Manhattan, demonstrating how his empire was expanding throughout the city.
Shirley MacLaine says Trump’s the worst president in all her lifetimes. https://t.co/RXUcF5cXEU
— Single Malt Liberal (@SingleMaltLib) September 23, 2024
Over the course of her lengthy and remarkable career, MacLaine talked candidly about her interactions with various US presidents. The acclaimed actress has met an impressive 13 presidents since Harry Truman, offering her unique insights into America’s political leadership over the decades. She admired Ronald Reagan and wrote, “Reagan as a person very much; he was a show business favorite.” She was also captivated by Jimmy Carter, as she recalled being ‘fascinated by [his] intelligence.’
The Oscar winner’s book, which is filled with unforgettable experiences from both Hollywood and politics, is like a pictorial diary of her amazing life. What’s really interesting is how she moves between those two worlds. The only president she didn’t meet was Richard Nixon. She openly said, “I never encountered Nixon. I thought he was ridiculous and wouldn’t want to have met him,” according to The Independent .
Shirley Maclaine once said in an interview about George Bush becoming president – things like we are experiencing, we are experiencing as part of a learning process. It is like having to hit rock bottom before you reach the turning point. And we are now at that point.
— Walk With Bears (@walk_with_bears) March 9, 2021
Among her most memorable political moments was her participation in President John F. Kennedy’s legendary 1962 birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, the same night Marilyn Monroe delivered her famous Happy Birthday performance. MacLaine performed alongside Jimmy Durante that evening, securing her place in one of presidential history’s most iconic moments. In addition to a snapshot from the afterparty and a scandalous story about Monroe and John and Robert Kennedy, the book also features a picture of MacLaine with Ted Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy brother, 22 years later. “Here, I’m telling Teddy Kennedy that story in 1984,” she wrote, “and he’s laughing about how the boys got away with it all the time.”