We sometimes learn things about celebrities that we hadn’t known, even though they happened many years ago. They sometimes come up during an interview, and something interesting came up on a podcast recently.
Kathy Lee Gifford was on the Sage Steele Podcast early in February 2025, when she talked about a moment in her life that she will never forget. She reflected on a number of things during that interview, including losing her husband and the friendship that she shares with Pres. Donald Trump.
She also shared a story that was 31 years old, and at the time, she was going to host the Miss America pageant. Her newborn daughter was with her and the FBI contacted her husband, saying that there was a dangerous criminal who was targeting his wife.
The FBI told Frank that he should act as if nothing was wrong so the criminal wouldn’t realize they were watching for him. Frank, however, wanted to ensure his wife’s safety.
In order to get some help, he turned to Donald Trump. Trump then told Frank that the situation would be handled by him personally.
Kathie recalled: “[…] Donald said — this is why I will love this man for my whole life — he said, ‘Frank don’t you worry about it. I’ve got your girls. I’ve got your girls and don’t you worry.”
Frank then called the FBI and told them that he had Donald Trump’s word that the situation would be cared for. Meanwhile, Kathie had no idea what was taking place and the next day, she got a call from Donald. He said he was sending his private helicopter to make sure that she and her daughter got home safely. He also sent security guards.
She said: “There were four of his security guys there.”
Armed guards stayed with her, stationed outside the hotel room for days around the clock. It wasn’t until the pageant actually took place that she fully understood what was going on.
She read the headline in a newspaper. She said: “I read it and thought, ‘Oh, I’m kind of interested in that story.”
The show continued on as planned with Donald Trump’s security detail staying by her side. Kathie was then discreetly taken home by a secret route to avoid any threats that may still be lingering.
A few days later, she was at the movies with her son when the FBI approached her and told her that the suspect had been captured.
She said: “That’s my friend. Donald saved my life, saved my daughter’s life and if I called him today [he] would save it again. […] People don’t know that about him.”
