“The Interview That Didn’t Fly: Ruby Wax Recalls a Hilarious Encounter with Donald Trump”

It was the 1990s, long before he was a political figure, when Donald Trump was best known as a real estate mogul and television personality. British-American comedian Ruby Wax, known for her bold interview style and disarming humor, found herself on a private jet with Trump, preparing to film one of her signature interviews. What she didn’t expect was that the interview would never make it to air—and that she would be asked to leave mid-flight.

During a recent appearance on Good Morning Britain, Wax shared the unusual story with hosts Kate Garraway and Charlotte Hawkins, laughing at the memory of what turned into one of the shortest interviews of her career.

“I always used to meet my guests over dinner before the actual filming,” Wax explained. “It helped them open up, and we’d get to know each other in a casual setting. They’d often share really personal things—things I wouldn’t even use on air. It was just a way to build trust.”

But that approach didn’t seem to work with Trump.

“Donald was very guarded, and it felt like he couldn’t quite place me,” Wax said. “He seemed confused by me—maybe because I didn’t fit into a neat category. I wasn’t someone he could easily label.”

According to Wax, the atmosphere on the plane was already tense when Trump casually mentioned a surprising ambition.

“He said to me, ‘I want to be the next president of the United States,’” Wax recalled. “I genuinely thought he was joking. I mean, it was so unexpected. I laughed out loud. I thought, ‘Wow, this guy has a great sense of humor!’”

But the reaction didn’t land the way she’d hoped.

“He didn’t like that I laughed,” she said. “He got up and said, ‘That’s it. I want her off the flight.’ Next thing I knew, the plane was turning around, and we were descending. We hadn’t even reached cruising altitude for long.”

Wax and her crew were dropped off in Arkansas, completely stranded and with no real plan B. “We ended up finding out he was judging a Miss Nebraska pageant a few states away,” she said. “That was the last we saw of him.”

Though the experience was disruptive at the time, Wax now views the incident with humor and insight. “At the time, it was frustrating—we’d flown all the way to film, and it all ended before it began. But looking back now, it’s hilarious. It’s just one of those stories that sticks with you.”

The story resurfaced in the media just as a new poll indicated a rise in Trump’s favorability ratings among various voter groups, including younger Americans and minority communities. While this aspect has nothing to do with Wax’s anecdote, the overlap in timing prompted renewed public interest in her story, especially as conversations about public personas and leadership continue to evolve.

Despite the unexpected end to that encounter, Wax continues to reflect on it with humor rather than hostility.

“Look, it’s a funny story. That’s all it is,” she told the ITV hosts. “I wasn’t offended. It’s not the first time someone didn’t enjoy my sense of humor, and it won’t be the last.”

As for Trump, he has not publicly commented on the event. Given that the story occurred decades ago, long before his entry into politics, it’s likely just one of many unpredictable moments from a life lived largely in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Wax remains active in media and mental health advocacy, having written several books and performed one-woman shows focused on mental wellness and emotional resilience. Her sharp wit and candidness continue to earn her fans across generations, even when her honesty lands her in unexpected places—like mid-air confrontations with famous billionaires.

“You never know what’s going to happen when you show up to work,” she laughed. “Sometimes it’s a great interview. Sometimes you get kicked off a plane. Either way, it makes for a good story.”