'Scandal' introduced its 'Donald Trump,' and he's ridiculous

WARNING: This post contains spoilers about the latest episode of Scandal

So exactly how bad is Scandal's Donald Trump? Well, let's just say Fitz said it best when at the start of Thursday's episode he referred to Hollis Doyle as a "disease." 

"Divorce suits you," Doyle (played excellently by Gregg Henry) told Mellie grossly when she sat down with him seeking some major funds for her campaign. "I see it in your hips -- you're leaner and meaner."

A-hole. 

When she rejected his proposal to do away with the Environmental Protection Agency, he told her he'd be giving her opponent Susan the same offer -- he would "see how far up her skirt she's willing to let me go." 

Via Giphy

Later in the episode, Doyle -- a fan of phrases like "freeloading illegals," "pesky little border-crosser" and "sad little refugee" -- pulled the ultimate snake move and not only entered the race, he stole Mellie's slogan and announcement strategy. 

So what comes next? War -- heated debates, retribution and, by all indications, Mellie letting her inner fierce southerner come out to play.

"Down the road, you will not be disappointed," Bellamy Young told Mashable PaleyFest earlier this week before a screening of the episode. 

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"This week's episode, I'm glad you loved it," Kerry Washington added after the crowd was shown the episode. "Next week? Whew."

Elsewhere, this is what the cast had to say about some other big moments: 

On Abby's big move

In the episode, Abby was confronted with a moral quandary: Should she tell the president about Cyrus' ties to Vargas and make a play for his job or be a "better person?" 

After laying out the options with Olivia in a fantastic scene, she ultimately chose the former. She chose to be a "big dog" -- but not without knowing the cost of doing so.  

Cyrus is now out of a job, and Abby, the new chief of staff, now knows a lot about the new limits she's willing to go to in order to accomplish her ambitions.  

"This one to me was very specific and wasn't necessarily about being a woman but being competitive," creator Shonda Rhimes explained after the panel. "She knows what it means to watch people grab for power and get it, and she's never done that before -- until she wants it. And she's afraid. There are so many people afraid to go after what they want, and she knows the cost of going after what you want in this town." 

On Huck's decision

In the episode, Huck also went on a bit of a crazy ride as he attempted to prove to himself that there was something off about his former wife's new boyfriend. Spoiler: There wasn't anything shady about him. 

In the end, Huck decided it was time to let his family go, despite his stronger-than-ever desire to be a part of his son's life. 

"I think it's very big of Huck that he's grown as a person and can say, 'I'm going to let them go for good,'" Guillermo Diaz told the crowd. 

"I think he's coming around to being a different person," added Rhimes. "I think everybody's evolving this season. I think he's trying to be a better person." 

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