'I met the real Donald Trump and one thing about the US President surprised me'

A woman who encountered prior his first election to the Oval Office claims that the real US President contrasts with the image he portrays publicly. As Trump's aggressive imposition of tariffs causes global stock markets to nosedive-a situation he gloated over on "Liberation Day"- the discussion about his true character has resurfaced.

Polly Vernon from The Times shared a discreet encounter with Trump in , unveiling a trait strikingly at odds with his usual bombastic public demeanour.

The meeting took place back in 2011, a time when Trump, now notorious for his polarising stance, was testing the waters for a shot at the White House.

Although there were whispers about him possibly running for president, his current affairs mostly revolved around the construction of a golf course in Scotland and a line of Trump-branded hand sanitisers-an unexpectedly foresighted move pre-pandemic.

Looking back on their dialogue, Polly observed that Trump's verbal tone diverged significantly from what the world is used to. She describes it: "'What is it that you're interested in?" Trump inquired, sporting a tone far gentler and shakier than anticipated-certainly less strident than the confrontational, slogan-bellowing front he later adopted, reports the .

Barron Trump, the youngest son of Donald Trump who some commentators suggest may follow his father's footsteps into the Oval Office, surprised many with his soft Slovenian accent, hinting at the significant time he spends with his mother, Melania.

Norma Foerderer, who served as Trump's closest aide for more than 25 years, revealed that the former US president's boisterous public persona would "completely vanish once he was away from the public eye."

"Donald can be totally outrageous, but outrageous in a wonderful way that gets him coverage," she disclosed to the Washington Times.

"That persona sells his licensed products and his condominiums. You know Donald's never been shy, and justifiably so, in talking about how wonderful his buildings or his golf clubs are.

However, behind closed doors, Trump is "the dearest, most thoughtful, most loyal, most caring man", she added. According to one White House staffer, Trump isn't keen on the public seeing his softer side.

"He'll walk into a room with a bunch of workers and gather them up and hand them out each a hundred dollar bill," they unveiled to the Washington Times.

The insider further noted: "There's no camera there. Those are the moments people just don't see, like when he's telling us about how an emotional event has impacted him, and he doesn't want them to see it. He likes to display the tough, rough exterior."

Trump is fixated on every aspect of his public persona, even revealing that fashion guru Tom Ford once advised him to alter his iconic bouffant hairdo: "I've combed it this way for a long time. I wash it. I comb it. Sometimes I blow-dry it. And it's finished. Having the look is very important."

Trump believes his confrontational public persona is key to his triumphs, as he penned in 'The Art of the Deal': "If you are a little different or a little outrageous, or if you do things that are bold or controversial, the press is going to write about you."