A gossip blog has published former reality television star Donald Trump’s personal cellphone number, reasoning in an article Monday that it’s only “fair and right” given the real estate mogul’s past behavior.
The Republican presidential candidate appears to be taking it in stride, however, as a campaign spokesperson told the Washington Examiner’s media desk that the phone number is “very old.”
“It’s a very old number. This is not one he uses. Mr. Trump has several numbers so this is not an issue,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this year, Trump gave out fellow Republican presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham’s, R-S.C., personal cell number during a campaign stop in the Palmetto State, urging a crowd of supporters to “try it.”
Fair is fair, Gawker argued this week in an article titled “Call Donald Trump’s Cell Phone and Ask Him About His Important Ideas.”
“In the spirit of open and fair political debate, we now bring you Trump’s number,” the article reads. “Since Trump, in his considered political judgment, has decided that opening up a direct, personal channel of communications between his supporters and his primary opponents is a noble campaign tactic, we think it’s only fair and right that Republican primary voters be able to reach out to Trump himself.”
The gossip blog continued, encouraging its readers to call the real estate mogul turned Republican presidential candidate and ask him about his many controversial positions and statements.
“Does [Trump] still think Mexicans are out to rape you? Speaking of rape, does he think it’s possible to rape your own wife?” the Gawker article asks, referring to comments Trump made recently about Mexican immigrants as well as a Daily Beast report alleging that he may have at some point sexually assaulted his ex-wife, Ivana Trump.
This isn’t the first time that Gawker has published a public figure’s personal information. In 2011, the infamous blog also released Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit’s cell number (as it proudly recalled this week when it published Trump’s phone number).
“[I]t’s legal to unilaterally record any conversation you might have with Trump in many states (be sure to check the site to make sure it’s OK where you are),” the blog added Monday, “And of course, make sure to share it with us.”
