The New York Times received an advance copy of Megyn Kelly’s new memoir “Settle for More,” and the tidbits include everything from Donald Trump threatening her to the now-president-elect inviting her to his South Florida resort.
Reviewer Jennifer Senior said she is “nervous” for Kelly now that Donald Trump is America’s president-elect, after reading the book’s account of how the prospective POTUS retaliated against the Fox News host when she upset him with questions about his treatment of women during a 2015 primary debate.
“Trump did not take kindly to Ms. Kelly’s questions, and he appeared to retaliate in creepy, personal ways. Many journalists are already concerned that he has little regard for their professional responsibilities or First Amendment rights. ‘Settle for More’ won’t allay their fears,” Senior wrote.
The book explains that Trump threatened to use his Twitter account against Kelly, according to Senior, who said Trump once called Fox executives claiming to have advance knowledge of her debate questions. That prompted assumptions that then-Fox News CEO Roger Ailes was in bed with Trump.
Kelly took umbrage at Senior’s interpretation of the passage in question on Thursday, tweeting, “For the record, my book ‘Settle for More’ does not suggest Trump had any debate Qs in advance, nor do I believe that he did.”
Ailes has since resigned in disgrace after sexual harassment complaints from multiple women, but while he ran Fox News Trump complained about Kelly’s line of questioning.
“Folks were starting to worry about Trump — his level of agitation did not match the circumstances,” Kelly wrote in her book, according to the Times. “Yes, it was his first debate. But this was bizarre behavior, especially for a man who wanted the nuclear codes.”
As Senior points out, Trump did go on to attack Kelly on Twitter, calling her “overrated” and a “bimbo.” The book also has details of Trump offering gifts to reporters, including the time he invited Kelly to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
“This is actually one of the untold stories of the 2016 campaign,” Kelly wrote, according to the Times. “I was not the only journalist to whom Trump offered gifts clearly meant to shape coverage. Many reporters have told me that Trump worked hard to offer them something fabulous — from hotel rooms to rides on his 757.”
The review concludes: “Like most superstars, Ms. Kelly is a metabolic anomaly. She’s willed herself into her own spectacular existence. Along the way, she got the best of the next president of the United States. And the worst.”
“Settle for More” will be released on Nov. 15.