TV star hints at tell-all White House story
UNITED STATES: One of President Donald Trump’s most senior African-American aides has gone public with criticism of the White House after resigning amid reports of a blazing row at a Christmas party.
Omarosa Manigault, who appeared on the US version of TV show The Apprentice, said she saw things while working for Trump that made her ‘‘very uncomfortable’’ and ‘‘very unhappy’’.
She did not deny claims she was concerned by Trump’s stance on Charlottesville, where a woman died in clashes with white supremacists, and Roy Moore, the controversial Alabama senate candidate who was supported by Trump.
Manigault even hinted at producing a tell-all account of her time in the White House.
African-American voters were credited with the Republicans’ shock Alabama election defeat this week, in which Doug Jones became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state in a generation. He beat Moore, a Republican accused of making remarks condoning slavery and who had also been accused of sexual misconduct with underage girls.
Manigault’s comments came after reports she was pushed out of the White House following a heated row with John Kelly, Trump’s chief of staff, at a Christmas party on Wednesday.
One reporter said Manigault demanded her ‘‘full access’’ to Trump be re-established and ‘‘cursed’’ at Kelly in front of other guests. She admitted having a ‘‘frank’’ conversation with Kelly but denied rowing in front of others.
Her departure brings to an end the tenure of one of Trump’s bestknown advisers who had a 14-year friendship with the president. Manigault has been described as ‘‘the reality TV star everyone loved to hate’’ for her backstabbing appearances on Trump’s TV show The Apprentice. She was appointed director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison after the election and appeared to have the president’s ear before a restructure limited her access.
But her behaviour irked some colleagues. On her wedding day, Manigault reportedly arrived at the White House with guests in tow for an unannounced photo shoot. There were also claims of feuding with other aides.
The veiled criticism she gave during an interview risks damaging Trump politically given questions about his support among the African-American community.
Manigault said that ‘‘as the only African-American woman in this White House, as a senior staff and an assistant to the president, I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people’’.
‘‘And when I can tell my story, it is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear.’’ – Telegraph Group