Keith Olbermann, a former MSNBC host and sports broadcaster, was almost entirely absent from the national political dialogue for the last year, but thanks to Donald Trump, he’s inserting himself into the election.
On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an op-ed by Olbermann in which he described moving out of an apartment he previously owned in one of Trump’s New York buildings in order to get as far away from Trump as possible — “physically, morally and real-estatedly.”
It was the latest in a string of public remarks Olbermann has made to and about the Republican presidential candidate.
Two days before the Post op-ed, Olbermann, previously known for his liberal commentary on MSNBC, gave an interview to The Wall Street Journal about his sale.
He said that since he moved out in March, he feels “20 pounds lighter” and “less morally icky.”
Olbermann, who is notorious in media circles for engaging in ugly work-place disputes with his former bosses, first brought up his departure from the Trump building in another column for the Post in early March.
“I can’t hear, or see, or say that name [Trump] any longer without spitting,” he wrote by way of explaining his move. “Frankly, I’m running out of Trump spit.”
He said his decision was made after he spent time following the “coarseness” of Trump’s campaign, though he acknowledged that he lived in the apartment for nine “largely happy years.”
Olbermann has also taunted the real estate developer on social media.
“We [New Yorkers] are embarrassed by you. Leave,” he said in a tweet directed at Trump on Tuesday.
Trump responded to the liberal commentator in the Journal article, expecting that Olbermann’s departure would result in the building’s apartment prices going up. Olbermann “is just trying to use ‘Trump’ to get publicity and stay relevant,” Trump said.
Olbermann’s apartment is selling for $3.9 million, according to the Journal’s report, down from the $4.3 million he bought it for.
