Ruby Wax Recalls Being Kicked Off Donald Trump’s Plane in the 1990s After Laughing at His Presidential Dream
London, UK – British comedian and television host Ruby Wax has opened up about an unforgettable encounter with Donald Trump long before he became the 45th President of the United States—a meeting that ended with her being ordered off his private plane mid-flight.
Wax, who was born in the United States but built her career primarily in the UK, is well-known for her candid, sometimes irreverent interviewing style on the BBC and other networks. Now 70, she’s spent decades speaking with some of the world’s most famous figures, but few encounters match the drama of her meeting with Trump in the 1990s.
Speaking on Kate Garraway’s ITV talk show, Wax explained that at the time she was preparing to interview Trump for a television segment. As part of her standard approach, she would arrange a pre-interview meal to break the ice and get to know her guest in an informal setting. “During these meals, people often tell me very personal things that I don’t end up using in the final interview,” she said. “It’s all about trust.”
However, she quickly discovered that Trump wasn’t the type to let his guard down easily. Wax described him as “fierce” and “vicious” in conversation, adding, “When a man treats you like an idiot, you can sometimes end up acting like one. I think he just couldn’t figure me out.”
The turning point came when Trump unexpectedly revealed a personal ambition: “I want to be the next president of the United States.” At the time, Trump was primarily known as a New York real estate mogul, with occasional ventures into entertainment and beauty pageants. Wax assumed the statement was part of his trademark bravado.
“I thought it was a joke,” she recalled. “I genuinely believed he was being funny, so I laughed. And that was it—he told his team, ‘I want her off the flight.’”
The decision was immediate. Despite being at cruising altitude—around 33,000 feet—the plane turned around and returned to land. Wax and her crew were unceremoniously left behind in Arkansas with no clear plan for what to do next.
“We were stranded,” Wax said, still amused by the memory. “We eventually found him again in Nebraska, judging a Miss Nebraska beauty contest. The whole situation was surreal.”
According to Wax, Trump refused to speak to her after the incident, cutting off any possibility of continuing their planned interview. At the time, she was frustrated, but decades later, she views it as one of the more entertaining misadventures of her career.
The story resurfaced as Trump’s political standing continues to dominate U.S. headlines. Despite ongoing criticism from political opponents and controversy over recent trade policies, his approval ratings are showing signs of growth.
A J.L. Partners/Daily Mail poll conducted from March 31 to April 3 found that Trump’s approval rating among registered voters had risen to 53 percent, up four points from the previous week. Analysts found the jump particularly notable given the recent imposition of sweeping tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners—a move that triggered turbulence in financial markets.
Perhaps most surprising was the surge in support among younger voters. Among those aged 18 to 29, Trump’s favorability rating increased by 13 points since early March, suggesting that his message is resonating beyond his traditional voter base.
For Ruby Wax, the poll numbers are just another reminder of how unpredictable Trump’s career has been. “When he told me he wanted to be president, I laughed because it sounded so absurd,” she said. “Looking back now… maybe I shouldn’t have laughed.”
