Kathie Lee Gifford Shocks Fans with Untold Story of How Donald Trump Saved Her Life!

During a podcast interview, the TV host and singer-songwriter shared a terrifying experience, giving credit to Donald Trump for stepping in and saving her life.

In early February 2025, Kathie Lee Gifford appeared on the “Sage Steele Podcast,” where she talked about key moments in her life.

During the conversation, she discussed her long career, the pain of losing her husband, Frank Gifford, and her complicated friendship with Donald Trump.

Wearing a cozy knitted sweater and jeans, Kathie recalled a scary moment from 31 years ago when she was about to host the Miss America Pageant.

She had her newborn daughter with her when the FBI contacted Frank, warning that a dangerous criminal was after her.

The FBI told Frank to act normal so the suspect wouldn’t know they were onto him. But Frank refused to take any chances with his wife’s safety.

In the middle of the crisis, Frank reached out to Donald Trump for help. Without hesitation, Donald assured him that he would take care of everything.

“[…] Donald said — this is why I will love this man for my whole life — he said, ‘Frank, don’t you worry. I’ve got your girls. I’ve got your girls and don’t you worry,'” Kathie remembered, holding back tears.

After that, Frank called the FBI again and told them Donald had promised to handle it.

Kathie, who knew nothing about the danger at the time, was shocked when Donald called her the next day. He told her he was sending his private helicopter and security guards to make sure she and her daughter got home safely.

When she arrived, a team of security guards arranged by Donald was there to protect her. “There were four of his security guys there,” she said, still trying to process everything.

For days, she had protection without even realizing it. Armed guards were stationed outside her hotel room the entire time. It wasn’t until the day of the pageant that she truly understood how serious the situation was.

She picked up a newspaper and was stunned to see a headline about a death threat against her. “I read it and thought, ‘Oh, I’m kind of interested in that story,'” she recalled. That’s when she finally realized how much danger she had been in and how far people had gone to protect her.

Despite the shocking news, Kathie refused to let fear control her. When asked if she wanted to back out of the pageant, she confidently replied, “Hell no! Nobody’s going to make me afraid.”

The event continued as planned, with Donald’s security team staying by her side. After the pageant, she was quietly taken home using a different route to avoid any threats. She later found out that an FBI agent had also been guarding her home in Connecticut, protecting her three-year-old son, Cody.

A few days later, while she was at the movies with her son, an FBI agent approached her with good news—the suspect had been caught. She felt relieved, but the whole experience remained a frightening memory.

“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,” Kathie said.

Her story revealed a different side of Donald Trump, showing the deep gratitude she still has for him.

Kathie’s appearance on the “Sage Steele Podcast” wasn’t the only reason she had been in the news lately. A few weeks earlier, she joined “Today” for Hoda Kotb’s farewell episode, and her appearance sparked a lot of reactions.

Kathie surprised Hoda on her last day on “Today with Jenna & Friends” on January 10. While her presence added excitement, a video shared online led to mixed reactions.

In the clip, Jenna Bush Hager told Hoda that a close friend had sent her a special message. The screen then showed Kathie speaking from Tennessee. The 71-year-old TV star reflected on their time together and the happiness they shared.

“I always loved hugging you and just soaking in that beautiful sunshine of a smile you have,” she said warmly. Apologizing for not being there in person, she joked, “I’m sorry to miss your big day. But you know I’m very busy. Very busy, very important. Not!” She ended with, “I love you, sweetheart! So excited for you.”

As the video ended, Jenna surprised Hoda by revealing that Kathie’s message from Tennessee was a trick. Instead, Kathie walked into the studio, catching Hoda completely off guard.

Kathie was dressed in a black lace dress, looking as elegant as ever. Her long, wavy blonde hair and soft makeup enhanced her natural glow.

The studio was decorated with pink and purple balloons, creating a celebratory atmosphere. Kathie confidently stood among the decorations and later sat down with Hoda and Jenna for an emotional chat.

Her appearance sparked debate online. Some people admired her beauty, while others speculated about plastic surgery.

“I didn’t even recognize her; she’s done way too much with her face,” one person commented. Another added, “Botox!” while someone else said, “Loads of plastic surgery there, Kathy. Gotta own your real age one day [sic].”

Some social media users joked about celebrities and cosmetic procedures, while others compared Kathie’s look to Mariah Carey’s.

Despite the criticism, many people were supportive. “She looks so good!!!” one fan wrote. Another added, “Kathie Lee looks better than ever. BRAVO! [sic]” Someone else gushed, “Kathie Lee is so pretty.”

One viewer praised Kathie for always showing up for her friends during important moments, mentioning her appearances for both Hoda and the late Regis Philbin.

Even with divided opinions, Kathie was clearly present and happy as she celebrated Hoda’s final day on the show.

In a separate interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz on “The Dr. Oz Show,” Kathie shared more about the personal and professional reasons behind her changing appearance.

She revealed that she had lost weight while preparing for a movie role she had written for herself and Craig Ferguson.

“The character is named Annabelle, and she’s newly widowed. And she is a runner…she deals with her pain by—she’s always been a runner but she deals with it by…running. I started getting in training for that long before I started shooting the movie,” she explained.

Losing her husband in 2015 also played a role in her transformation. “I’d lost weight right after my husband passed away because that’s why they call it a diet—they die, and you don’t want to eat…I don’t even remember eating after Frank passed,” she admitted, adding that she has never been someone who eats a lot.

In a 2017 interview with Prevention, she reflected on aging with a grateful heart.

“All day long, life is about choice. Am I going to bemoan the fact that I’m 64 years old or say, ‘Thank you, Lord, I made it to 64’? I’m healthy, I’m employed, my kids are awesome, life is good. I’m grateful. I think the most important reason to love your age is to be grateful for everything,” she said.

She added with her signature humor, “If you grieve what you’ve lost in life at the expense of being grateful for what you have, you might as well take a dirt nap.”