Op-Ed

Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

By Robin Goodrow | Contributor

In the early 1990’s I had my own personal encounter with Donald Trump.

I was in Las Vegas attending the American Booksellers Association Convention. At one point I decided to go exploring. The Convention Center was huge and I soon came upon a closed door. Since there were speakers scattered throughout the day I opened it to see what was happening.

To my surprise I discovered Donald Trump and another gentleman sitting together at a long wooden table in front of a large empty room. I recognized Trump right away. Remembering he had several children I decided to give him one of my children’s music tapes entitled AMAZING!

Quickly pulling the tape out of my bag I approached the table and looking him squarely in the eye I introduced myself to Donald Trump.

“Hello my name is Robin,” I said cheerfully. I’ve always been this way, addressing everyone I meet with an open heart.

I was greeted with cold dead eyes and nothing more. I waited, still nothing. Staring at his unwavering expression, I nervously went on.

“I know you have children and I’d like to give you a copy of my children’s music tape for your kids.”

Trump continued staring at me with a frosty scowl. When he still didn’t respond, I felt awkward and spoke again.

“My tape has won a lot of awards including an Emmy so I promise you it’s really good.”

I set the cassette down on the table directly in front of him but again only the cold hard stare of disdain.

Now I felt really awkward, his expression more hostile. “You know” I finally said, “there are a lot of really funny songs on here. You might want to listen to it too. You look like you could use a good laugh.”

The gentleman sitting next to Trump threw his head back and let out a loud guffaw. He thought that was hilarious. Trump’s expression didn’t change; he continued to scowl at me like I was below him, not worth his time. He never said a word to me, not thank you or anything else. I felt embarrassed and after a moment I walked away.

As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”

That was me. As most people would agree a good person, a person of character would have taken my gift and given me a simple thank you. Instead he treated me like dirt, less than dirt. And that is the real Donald Trump, a man who didn’t want anything from me; I was useless to him, so he gave me nothing, not even civility.

Years later I watched this same man turn on his charm for America, seducing supporters in giant arenas. I watched him saying the things they needed and wanted to hear and I knew it was all an act, that he was a master manipulator and a con man.

As I walked out of the room I felt like I’d met a very damaged and disturbed human being and I needed a shower to wash away his arrogant contempt for me, and for the world.

And now we are all victims of Trump’s contempt, for his fellow Americans, for the Constitution and the rule of law, and for Democracy itself. He has his supporters believing it’s the rest of America who thumb their nose at them, when in fact it’s Trump who has a real loathing for everyone, wanting to pit us against each other for his own personal and political gain.

And if you needed more proof of the real Donald Trump, Olivia Troye, a former top staffer to Vice President Mike Pence reported witnessing some disturbing behavior while attending a task force meeting. It was there she heard the President announce, “Maybe this Covid thing is a good thing. I don’t have to shake hands with these DISGUSTING people.”

Disgusting people?

Troye also stated, “Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about. These are the people still going to his rallies today who have complete faith in who he is. The truth is he doesn’t actually care about anyone else but himself.”

If you’re curious to know the real man, read the many quotes from his older sister Maryanne who has known Trump his entire life and describes her own brother as a "cruel" man. "He has no principles. None. None" she warned.

In a recent interview with Ari Melber, Trump’s own niece Mary Trump warned us as well. “Donald is a very sick man. He’s never going to get better. He’s only going to get worse, and if...