SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

‘Can you believe this, Piers?’ chuckled a familiar voice down the phone from New York. ‘I’m actually topping the polls!’

‘Actually, yes, I can Donald,’ I laughed, from the office of my London home. ‘Nothing about you ever surprises me. Think you can actually win the whole thing now?’

‘Absolutely,’ roared the man who might well be the next President of the United States. ‘You know, when I entered the race, Melania just said to me, “If you run, you’ll win.” She knows how competitive I am.’

I’ve known Donald Trump for a decade and never met a more frighteningly self-confident human being. The word ‘loser’ is simply not in his lexicon, unless he’s taunting an opponent.

Contestant: Piers Morgan with Donald and Ivanka Trump when he competed on US Celebrity Apprentice show

‘You enjoying being a politician?’

‘It’s great! I’m not like these other guys. I can say what I really think, and I don’t have to keep apologising for it.

'I’m my own boss, I’m worth $10 billion and nobody can buy me. So these Washington people are scared of me and so they should be. I don’t have to play by their rules. I’m going to win and I’m going to make America great again.’

Trump’s an extraordinary man; an incredibly loyal friend (as I have personally discovered) but a ruthlessly nasty enemy.

He’s been married three times (Melania, a beauty model born in the former Yugoslavia is his third wife) and has five children, three of whom – Eric, Donald Jr and Ivanka – now work for his global real-estate business. I’ve met them all many times and they are bright, respectful and charming.

So’s Donald, when he wants to be. But cross him and he’ll bite your head off faster than a ravenous tiger guzzling an impertinent gazelle.

He has boundless energy, lives off three hours sleep a night, and readily admits a chronic addiction to those three Manhattan tycoon vices: the deal, success and women.

As our 30-minute call wound up, he said: ‘Well, gotta go Piers, I’ve got an election to win. See you at the White House!’ He wasn’t joking then, and he certainly wouldn’t be joking if he said it now.

Campaign: Trump is a front runner to be the Republican nominee for America’s presidential election this year

Trump’s stunning win in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Primary has confirmed him as the front-runner to be Republican nominee for America’s presidential election in November.

Since I first got to know Trump competing on – and winning – his Celebrity Apprentice show, I’ve interviewed the bombastic billionaire at least 20 times, more than probably any other journalist, and we’ve exchanged dozens of phone calls and notes. This has given me a rare insight into what makes Trump tick, professionally and personally.

The truth is far more complex than his critics would have you believe.

Trump’s no saint, but nor is he the Devil incarnate.

Here, then, are a selection of diary entries I’ve made about him over the past ten years, much of it previously unpublished, which reveal the unpredictable mind, character and philosophy of the cocky property magnate who’s turned America’s political system on its head...

OCTOBER 16, 2007

To prepare for Celebrity Apprentice, I bought Trump’s book Think Big And Kick Ass, which is full of hilariously over-the-top entreaties:

‘Everyone wants to kill the fastest gun.’

‘Do not give a damn if people like you.’

‘When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.’

‘Go for the jugular so that people watching you will not want to mess with you.’

Today, we congregated at Trump’s HQ in New York, the self-effacingly named Trump Tower. He’s a big guy, 6ft 2in and over 16 stone. He’s also a very loud, domineering character.

Morgan at the launch of his book 'Shooting Straight: Guns, God, Gays, and George Clooney' with Donald Trump

From the moment he entered the room, flanked by bodyguards, we were left in no doubt that everything in Donald Trump’s world revolves around Mr Trump – as we were firmly encouraged to call him.

MARCH 27, 2008

The Celebrity Apprentice finale.

It’s been fascinating to observe Trump close up for a few months.

He’s tough, no-nonsense, utterly intolerant of ‘quitters and losers’ and revels in confrontation. But he also displayed a great deal of charm, empathy and humour, which surprised me.

And his decision-making for the show was clear-headed, clinical and usually right.

Trump announced me as the winner by saying: ‘Piers, you’re vicious, you’re smart, you’re tough, you’re probably brilliant, I’m not sure. You’re certainly not diplomatic, but you did an amazing job and you beat the hell out of everybody… you’re the Celebrity Apprentice.’

So I won because I played the game exactly how he would have played it.

JUNE 2, 2008

I’ve signed a new deal with ITV.

Today, I received an airmailed envelope containing a copy of a New York Post report on the news. On it, Trump had hand-written the words: ‘I knew I’d backed a winner! Congratulations, Donald.’ I found it strangely touching that he would bother to do this.

AUGUST 23, 2008

Interviewed Trump for GQ at his palatial mansion in Beverly Hills. Like his other homes that I’ve seen, it’s a monument to gold-encrusted decadence.

Away from the cameras, he was much calmer company, until I asked what he thought of President George W. Bush. ‘He’s set back this country 50 years!’ he raged.

‘After September 11, America had the chance to be the most popular country in the world, and instead, in a matter of weeks, that man destroyed it.

‘He purposely lied, and his lies got us into a war. I think he will go down as the worst President in the history of the country. A disaster.

‘Obviously we can make things up again, and recapture the glory. But right now, there is no glory for this country.’

Trump said George W. Bush's administration, pictured, set back the US '50 years', adding he could be remembered as the 'worst' President in the history of the country

I was stunned to hear him be so passionate about politics.

There’s clearly a fire that burns within Trump which extends beyond buying houses or firing people on TV shows.

The global economy was heading into meltdown when we met. Trump’s take on it was strikingly candid.

‘Last time this happened in the 1990s, I owed billions of dollars, and nearly went under. It was a very tough time. But I reacted positively. My theme was “survive ’til 95” and that turned out to be about right, because those who survived until then were OK. ’

‘What did you learn from that time?’

‘Number one, I could handle pressure. It all comes down to pressure: business, sport, life, everything.

‘You need brains, imagination, and a lot of other things. But you also have to be able to handle pressure.

'A lot of my friends couldn’t. I knew tough guys, or people who I thought were tough but who weren’t with retrospect, who crawled into a corner, put their thumbs in their mouths, and cried, “Mummy, I want to go home.” I didn’t sleep, I never ever gave up, and I fought hard to survive.’

‘How many people do you trust?’

‘Very few, I don’t want to trust people. We are worse than lions in the jungle. Lions hunt for food, to live. We hunt for sport.

'Our hunting involves doing lots of bad things to other people, whether it’s stealing their money or whatever.

Presidential candidate Trump said he trusts 'very few people' because we are 'worse than lions in the jungle'

'People are bad, they really are! They’re evil in many cases! People have to respect you, if they don’t respect you then, even if they are fairly honest, they will start to steal from you. That’s the way it is. Pretty sad, but true.’

‘Are you ruthless?’

‘No, I’m intelligent. I went to the Wharton School of Finance, which is the best. I had great marks, which a lot of people don’t know about me.’

Then a remarkable revelation: Trump said that he’s never touched a drop of alcohol, smoked a cigarette nor taken an illegal drug in his life. He doesn’t even drink coffee.

‘My brother Fred died of alcoholism,’ he explained. ‘He was a very handsome guy, had the best personality. But he got into drinking at college and became an alcoholic, and I watched him disintegrate.

‘He was 11 years older, and he told me never to drink or smoke. He knew he had a problem, and didn’t want me having it. I’ve never had a single glass of alcohol because I have genuinely never wanted to, and I’m proud of that. I’ve seen it destroy people like Fred.’

Women are a different matter. ‘I love women,’ he sighed. ‘I respect them, I think they’re magnificent. And I don’t just mean their physical beauty.’

‘Are you a good husband?’ I asked.

‘I think I’m a good husband now. It’s not easy for someone competing all the time with my business. I remember John Paul Getty being asked if he had his time again whether he would rather be John Paul Getty the great financial genius, or have a great marriage.

'And he said he’d rather be John Paul Getty because many people have great marriages, but there is only one John Paul Getty.’

‘Do you agree with that?’

‘I do, but maybe you can have both.’

Trump, pictured with Miss Universe 2012, said having 'The Look' is the secret to romancing beautiful women

I offered Donald a deal which challenged his two great loves – money and sex: ‘If I said you can have a cheque for $10 billion, but the proviso is you can’t have sex for five years, would you accept?’

‘You double my net worth just by not having sex?’ he smirked. ‘Sure. I could do that.’

‘They say every powerful man is good in bed. True?’

‘Yes… put it this way, I’ve never had any complaints. A lot of it is down to The Look. I see some successful guys who just don’t have The Look. And they are never going to go out with great women.

'The Look is very important. I don’t really like to talk about it because it sounds very conceited… but it matters. I’m a very handsome man.’

‘Does money buy happiness?’

‘Money is the scorecard. If I didn’t have money then it would mean that I am not very good at what I do. I like success. I am very competitive.

'I like winning when I study, when I play sport, when I’m in business. I like to win. You’ve gotta win. That’s what it’s all about. You know, Muhammad Ali used to talk and talk, but he won. If you talk and talk but you lose, the act doesn’t play.’

‘How would you like to be remembered?’

‘As someone who gave good quality. And as a good father, sometimes good husband [laughs], and loyal friend.’

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Trump threw a party in New York tonight for Kim Kardashian’s new perfume.

There’s been speculation he may run for President, something he’s flirted with for years.

‘Are the rumours true?’ I asked.

‘It’s very tempting,’ he said, ‘everywhere I go, people ask me if I’m running. And I’m considering it. I mean, how many more houses can I buy and sell?’

FEBRUARY 9, 2011

I’ve joined CNN, and Trump was my guest tonight as presidency speculation reached fever pitch.

‘Mr Trump, can I call you Donald finally?

‘You certainly may. I’ve been waiting for this. Donald. Please.'

‘Are you running for President?'

‘Only if I think I could win. I’m not doing it to come fourth. I’ve heard it said that people like me cannot win because we have too many enemies, but that’s because I’ve beaten a lot of people. You need a person like me to run this country.’

Trump said one of his priorities as President would be to announce a 25 per cent tax on Chinese products

‘What would be the first thing you’d do if you were President?’

‘I’d announce a 25 per cent tax on all Chinese products. That will stop them manipulating their currency and ripping us off.’

I turned to a matter of even greater global debate: his hair. ‘It’s not a hairpiece!’ he howled, ‘it’s my real hair. You know that.’

I do, because he once let me touch it during filming of Celebrity Apprentice.

It’s an extraordinary creation, like a flowing golden lion’s mane combed over, Bobby Charlton style. Only Trump insists it’s not a combover.

‘It’s more of a little bit forward and back. I think I have great hair, hair’s important. I had a friend come up to my office recently. I hadn’t seen him since school and this was the greatest looking guy. He did better with the girls than anybody. He was fantastic. He walks in, he was completely bald. It was terrible. I said, “What the hell happened to you?” So I’m very happy with my hair.’

APRIL 13, 2011

Trump is No 1 choice to be Republican nominee in a new poll of Republican voters.

‘Why are you doing so well?’ I asked him on CNN.

‘I’m not a professional politician,’ he replied, ‘and maybe that’s what’s resonating with people.’

JULY 20, 2011

Trump’s caused outrage by demanding to see President Obama’s birth certificate, prompting African-American broadcaster Tavis Smiley to say that if Trump ever ran for President himself it would be ‘the ugliest, nastiest, most divisive and racist election in the history of this republic.’

‘The word racist has not been applied to me,’ Trump declared defiantly tonight.

He once boasted to me: ‘I have a great relationship with blacks. I like blacks and they like me.’

JANUARY 4, 2012

Republican underdog Rick Santorum has won the Iowa Caucus, the first election in each American presidential campaign, by a tiny margin.

I interviewed Trump at his sumptuous office tonight, which is only marginally easier to penetrate than Fort Knox.

He has a massive desk, photos of his family on the walls, and spectacular views over Manhattan.

‘I like to see all my buildings,’ he laughed.

‘What did you make of Santorum’s win?’ I asked.

‘It doesn’t matter if you win by one vote, it’s like golf – if I win by one stroke or 20 strokes, winning is winning. And he won.’

We discussed the vast sums of money presumed to be necessary to run for President.

When asked if you needed a lot of money to run for president, Trump said cash was not important if you were 'good with the media'. Pictured, children board the private jet he uses to travel during his election campaign

‘If you are good with the media,’ he replied, ‘and you get a lot of coverage, I’m not sure money is that important.’

(He practised what he preached. Trump’s spent just $12 million on his 2016 campaign so far, but had at least $1 billion of free publicity by dominating the airwaves.)

He was scathing about Republican favourite Mitt Romney’s attempt to be Mr Nice Guy.

‘He made a concerted effort not to say anything bad about any of the candidates who said bad things about him. And in a certain way, I respect that.

‘But I believe you have to fight back. I always believe in fighting back. If somebody goes after you, you go after them.’

As for the possibility of Trump running for President, he said: ‘I have millions of people who want me to run.

‘They formed a party out in Texas called “Make America Great”. And I thought, boy, what a great name for a party because that’s what it’s all about, Making America Great. I guess I’d add the word “Again”.’ (Trump’s official 2016 election slogan is: Making America Great Again)

JUNE 13, 2013

Hillary Clinton, widely reported to be planning another presidential run, is being savaged over her role as Secretary of State in the Benghazi disaster where four Americans, including the ambassador, were killed by a mob at a US mission in Libya. ‘I’ve always liked Hillary,’ Trump told me tonight.

‘She and Bill are members of my club and they’re wonderful people. But she’s getting hit very hard. I think if this Benghazi stuff doesn’t stick, which perhaps it will and perhaps it won’t, she’s going to be the easy nominee for the Democrats. As for the Republicans, who knows?’

OCTOBER 10, 2013

The government has shut down after weeks of intransigent squabbling between Democrats and Republicans.

‘Donald, if you were the CEO of Washington Inc. right now,’ I asked, ‘how many times would you be saying, “You’re fired”?’

Discussing Senator Ted Cruz, his main rival for the Republican nomination, Trump said he was a 'smart guy'

His answer revealed his negotiating technique.

‘A lot but they really have to learn to get along. We have a President who is not leading and not getting people into a room and not shouting, and cajoling, and laughing, and having a good time, or having a terrible time. All of these different emotions are things you have to do to make deals for the good of the country.’

He also discussed Tea Party favourite, Senator Ted Cruz (now Trump’s main rival for the 2016 Republican nomination).

‘I’d hire him, he’s a smart guy.’

OCTOBER 16, 2013

I threw a party in New York to launch my new book. I’d invited Trump but he was due to be in Florida. ‘He’s trying to rearrange things,’ said his assistant Rhona Graff.

At 8pm, Trump walked in with Melania. ‘I changed my schedule just to be here and support you,’ he said.

I’ve learned that Trump’s a very loyal guy IF you’re loyal to him.

And I have been because I genuinely like him. He calls quite regularly for a chat and a gossip and never fails to make me laugh. We just don’t agree about many issues.

I made a speech about the theme of the book, America’s insane gun violence. Listening from the corner of the room were families from Dunblane and Sandy Hook.

‘You’re wrong about guns,’ said Trump, ‘They protect you from bad guys.’

If I were eligible to vote in a US election, I’d never vote for anyone who didn’t support new gun control laws, so that would include Trump.

DECEMBER 11, 2013

I asked Trump tonight if he carried a wallet. ‘No. I have very little cash on me, I don’t need it. Almost every time I go to a restaurant the owner says, “Mr Trump, it’s on me.” ’

‘Do you use email?’

‘I don’t like it. Every time there’s an email, you have problems in courts.’

FEBRUARY 26, 2014

It was announced today that I’m leaving CNN.

Trump phoned me: ‘You OK?’

‘I’m absolutely fine, I just miss home and I’m getting bored of shouting at Americans about guns.’

We chatted for a few minutes then he said: ‘You sound fine! I just wanted to check you were OK and you’re definitely OK. Stay in touch.’

Be interesting to see if he does.

JUNE 19, 2015

Trump has formally entered the 2016 presidential race. His decision was met with widespread mockery, but I wrote a column for the Daily Mail website predicting he would electrify the election battle and do a lot better than the cynics think.

He sent me a note: ‘Piers, I just read your article on me. You are very special and will always be my champion. I really made the right choice! Donald. PS: I am making waves!’ He certainly is.

Pictured, the note that Trump sent Morgan after he wrote a column on the tycoon entering the presidential race

I put his note in a drawer with the other 40 or so that he’s sent me over the years, through good times and bad. I’m not so naive that I don’t realise he probably pumps out these notes to a lot of people. But nor am I so cynical that I don’t appreciate the fact he takes the time to do it to me.

Selina Scott painted a picture in this newspaper of a vicious, misogynist monster bombarding her with vile messages after a TV interview Trump didn’t like. My experience couldn’t have been more different.

But in Trump’s world, you’re either with him or against him, there’s no middle ground.

JULY 16, 2015

Trump is causing mayhem in the race, and it’s working. He’s rocketing in the polls despite spewing a series of contentious comments.

Love him or loathe him, it’s refreshing to see someone resolutely refuse to play the conventional Washington political game.

Pictured, the complimentary note Morgan received after tweeting that Trump would 'shake up the election'

I tweeted today: ‘Love seeing Donald Trump shake up this election. Underestimate him at your peril.’ Tonight, he sent me a note: ‘Piers, you and I know there’s “just something about winning!” Donald.’

DECEMBER 8, 2015

Trump’s called for a ban on Muslims coming into America. It was a shocking statement too far for me, so I wrote a column attacking him. This is quite a test for our relationship.

I’ve never publicly castigated him before, and most who do get instantly outcast and berated for the rest of their natural lives.

I sent him a note: ‘Donald, I’ve written a column about your call for Muslims to be banned. I am disagreeing with you. I hope you read it and understand why I feel the way I do.’

He replied tonight: ‘Piers, you will always be a great champion to me, stop by and say hello. Donald.’

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Trump’s sensational success so far in this election race could be best described by the same words he used when he made me his Celebrity Apprentice: ‘You’re vicious, you’re smart, you’re tough, you’re probably brilliant, I’m not sure. You’re certainly not diplomatic, but you did an amazing job and you beat the hell out of everybody…’

He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and some of the things he comes out with are indefensibly outrageous.

But underneath all the bluster, and combative shock-and-awe rhetoric lurks a man with a gigantic zest for life, a big heart to those he cares about and a shrewd business brain.