One thing you should never do if you meet Donald Trump

A CLOSE aide of Donald Trump has shared the one important thing you should never do when meeting the presidential candidate.

See? Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump loves a fist bump. Picture: Molly Riley

“FIST bump him. Don’t shake his hand. He doesn’t like that.”

These were the stern words of advice from one of Donald Trump’s long-time aides, a man who, dressed immaculately, had worked for The Donald for decades. Who had heard his most inner thoughts and seen the man, America’s most divisive figure, during some of his most private times.

He didn’t want to be identified, but his support was clear.

“Donald Trump is just a normal guy who just happens to be a billionaire,” he said as he handed me a Trump, Make America Great Again bumper sticker.

“There’s a down-to-earth guy that nobody really knows.

“They only see him on television, they don’t see him in real life, they don’t see him in person, they don’t know what he’s like.

“He’s a big family man, he’s into his family. He likes steak and hamburgers like everybody else. He’s so down to earth.

“He’s a big shot, but he’s a normal, regular guy. He likes steak and potatoes like everyone else.”

“But if you ever meet him, fist bump him. Don’t shake his hand. He doesn’t like that.”

It was the early hours of the morning in August 2015, when the crowds began to gather in downtown Manhattan at New York’s Supreme Court.

Donald Trump was just two months into his presidential announcement, and at that time, he was firing on all cylinders. He’d already offended Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly after those “menstruating” comments and of course, there was “the Wall”.

“The Mexican government has taken the United States to the cleaners,” Trump wrote in a now-deleted statement on his website after he announced he would “build a wall” to keep illegal immigrants (Mexicans) out of the country.

“They are responsible for this problem, and they must help pay to clean it up. We will not be taken advantage of anymore.”

But on this day, he had a different type of law and order to focus on: jury duty.

Mr Trump had been summoned and, dutifully answered the call, arriving at New York City’s Supreme Court to await the possibility of selection — a welcome photo opp for a man who was purporting to be about social justice.

It was the calm before the election storm, when the idea of Donald Trump as president of the most powerful country in the world seemed almost laughable.

“He’ll never get it,” Americans respond at the time. They were enjoying the show, filled with doubt that Trump would actually make it all the way.

“Who’s he going to piss off next?” asked one intrigued onlooker at court.

“It’s like he doesn’t want to be president. He just wants the publicity. It’s free publicity for all his businesses. He can’t be reigned in.”

Another onlooker, dressed in a worn blue cap, frayed white shirt and tattered jeans, asked what all the fuss was about.

“Trump?” he questioned, then shook his head and walked away.

But, ever the entertainer, when he finally arrived, it was the spectacle everyone would expect.

“I’m ready, I’m ready,” he could be overheard telling his “people”.

The first thing you notice about Trump is undoubtedly his hair. Like a moth to a flame.

It’s easy to see how this guy made it so far. He clearly has presence.

Up close, he’s many things. He’s tall (6’2), a little older than what he appears on camera, and perhaps a little more orange. His hair is kept and frankly, not as bad as its reputation might make you believe.

I think this is where Donald Trump grows his hair. Lol 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/UB6YDW9LUE

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) November 7, 2016

The presidential candidate, dressed in a blue suit and a striped tie, was flanked by a ring of security guards, but despite being almost mauled by the mass of people that had congregated to the court, he pushed his way through, smiling, answering questions while looking like he was floating on water.

The rest, well, that’s for America to decide.

One American, New York tour guide Joe Lepore, had already done just that.

“2016 all the way, Donald. It’s going to be a landslide,” Mr Lepore told Mr Trump as they fist-bumped.

He was just lucky they didn’t shake.

With the cloud of an FBI investigation lifted, Hillary Clinton and Trump struck strikingly different tones as they moved into the final hours of a volatile, nearly two-year-long presidential campaign today. After days of full-throated attacks on Trump’s qualifications and temperament, Clinton cast herself as the candidate of “healing and reconciliation” — perhaps a surprising position for a woman who’s long been one of the most divisive figures in American politics.

Trump, meanwhile, voiced new confidence as he brought his campaign — and his dark visions of a rigged American economic and political system — to long-time Democratic strongholds.

“This is a whole different ball game,” Trump said at a rally in an airport hangar in Minneapolis, predicting victory in a state that hasn’t cast its electoral votes for a Republican since 1972.

At a rally in Virginia that Trump called his “midnight special speech”, the GOP standard-bearer called the race a “marathon.”

“We are going to have one of the great victories of all time,” he said.

— Matt Young is the former New York Correspondent for news.com.au.

— Additional reporting by Associated Press’ Jonathan Lemire.