Voicemails left for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump were obtained by Gawker on Friday. The messages reveal that while the real estate mogul likes to make a big show of bashing the news media at his rallies, he maintains a friendly relationship with members of the mainstream press.
Gawker pointed out they could not independently verify the voicemails. But if authentic, they do indicate some pretty cozy relationships. The messages were sent to Gawker via an unidentified source.
One woman caller identifies herself as "T Hall" and talks about being a big fan of Trump's. She then says she wants to use his discount at Gucci to purchase a $3,000 dress. Gawker believes it is MSNBC's Tamron Hall.
“I hope you’re bracing for Romney to get his butt whipped tomorrow by Obama,” the caller says, indicating the message goes back to the last election cycle.
Gawker explains that Trump has a "longstanding discount" with the high-end retailer, which rents space from him at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.
In another message, Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough allegedly tell Trump they're trying to reach him but he must be "on your jet or something." Scarborough then goes on to thank Trump profusely for something, but it isn't specified what it is.
"While Trump and some of his journalistic interrogators play oppositional roles on the public stage, the voicemails suggest that they are in fact favor-trading pals when the cameras are off," Gawker points out.
But most damning perhaps, for Trump's voting base at least, is a message purportedly from David Axelrod, the chief strategist of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, who thanks Trump for a check. In 2012, Trump donated to Axelrod's charity that is committed to fighting epilepsy.
Someone identifying as boxing icon Don King also left Trump a message saying, “You’re a Republicrat, that is so great for America."
Read the entire report and listen to some of the messages at Gawker here.