In one of many in-depth interviews for my book, “Never Enough,” Trump told me the story himself, in an attempt to explain how certain celebrities have a dark side they hide from the public.
Carson, the now deceased TV icon, was a case in point. As Trump told it, the tale begins with Carson phoning him.
“So he calls me and he goes, ‘Donald, you have two f--king men that work in the building [who] stole my coat.’”
To clarify, Trump adds that the coat was an expensive one: “He had a beautiful vicuna coat. You know vicuna?”
Cute cousins of llamas, vicunas produce a fine wool used to make luxury clothes. ...
“So I said, ‘What do you mean stole your coat?’ I said, ‘Who are they?’
“He gives me their names, two guys, two regular workers. I call him back and I said, ‘Johnny, I just spoke to them. They didn’t take your . . . and Johnny these guys don’t wear vicuna coats. If they ever wore a vicuna coat they'd be run out of their neighborhood.’ ”
Trump went on: “He said, ‘I’m telling you. They stole the coat . . . and I think you have to fire them immediately.’
“I said, ‘Johnny, they say they didn’t do it. Are you sure?’ ”
“He said, ‘They stole my coat, 100%. It was on my bed and they stole my coat.’
At this point I expect to hear that, out of loyalty, Donald stood up to the belligerent celebrity and refused to fire his workers. He knew they couldn’t tell vicuna from corduroy and, like Lewandowski, they were probably “good men” with families to feed. Besides, there was no evidence to support Carson’s claim. In fact, Trump was telling me the story to illustrate Carson’s petulance. I’m all ready to hear Trump explain how virtue overcame status when he says, “I fire both guys.”
I don’t know if it was the look on my face, or Trump’s realization that the story wasn’t so flattering to him. But whatever the reason, he kept talking.
“I believed Johnny,” said Trump. “He said, ‘They stole my coat and they should be fired.’ I bring them in. ‘I didn't steal it.’ I said, ‘Fellas, look. He said you stole it. You’re fired.’ ”
The kicker, added Trump, came in another phone call from Carson. As he said, “Six months later, I get a call. It’s Johnny Carson. ‘Hey Donald, how are you doing? By the way, do you remember I told you about that coat? I just found it. It was in the closet on the back of one of my closets, hung up and I just found it.’
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