Jane Fonda lies in bed imagining what she would say to President Donald Trump

Fonda feels as though she understands Trump's tendencies after having lived with her billionaire ex-husband Ted Turner - the billionaire media mogul who founded the Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour cable news channel, WTBS, TBS and TNT and gave the world World Championship Wrestling (WCW) - for a decade.

Appearing on On with Kara Swisher podcast, Jane said: "In my mind, sometimes when I lie in bed, I have conversations with him and I feel like I understand something about him because I lived with Ted Turner for 10 years.

"It's important to understand what he does and what he says. The behaviour is the language of the traumatised, and you have to see through it."

Fonda noted she has known the American president for some time, and drew parallels between Trump and Turner - who she was married to from 1991 to 2001 - particularly regarding the "early trauma at the hands of the father".

She said of Trump: "I would try to touch his heart. It's important to understand what he does and what he says. The behaviour is the language of the traumatised and you have to see through it."

Fonda insisted she does not "hate" Trump, explaining people need to "see through" his controversial rhetoric and actions to find a "traumatised person".

She continued: "You can hate the behaviour, but you have to see through it to the traumatised person and not hate them, because if you hate them, then it brings you down. I don't hate him.

"Joy Behar got really mad at me on The View when I said that. But I feel better."

Fonda then said "all these guys" - including Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk - are "not well".

She continued: "I view all these guys and Musk and the others - they're just not well. It's the not-wellness that we see acted out.

"I'm so sorry that this happened to them in their lives. And I would try to touch that early Trump. But I don't think I'd succeed."

Fonda also reflected on the work that needs to be done before the next election, emphasising "the president is already telling us that he's prepared to mess with the midterms".

She urged: "Exercise democracy.

"We have to get back to the organising. You know, [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani's big success was because he talked to people. He listened. It was local. And I think that that needs to happen again.

"Get ready. Understand authoritarianism and how it can be defeated. And learn how to be safe. Develop a community that can help each other."