Scandal to add new presidential candidate based on Donald Trump

The character will join the likes of Mellie Grant and Susan Ross in the show's presidential race

Though Scandal usually deals with entirely fictional politics, it seems as if the current presidential race was a call just too tempting to resist; a candidate is set to debut on the show who is directly inspired by Donald Trump.

The Hollywood Reporter says the episode was screened for fans at Paleyfest, which saw the new character join first lady Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young), Susan Ross (Artemis Pebdani), and Francisco Vargas (Ricardo Chavira) in the show's own presidential race.

"There might be some parallels coming," hinted Young; not for the first time, as the actor's own Mellie does bear a similarity to Hillary Clinton, though the character is running as a Republican candidate. Clinton herself even recently played a surprise visit to the set to watch the series being filmed.

It also appears as if the show is about to enter its own version of the presidential debates, with star Kerry Washington hinting; "If you think the debates you've seen in the real world are fun… "

"We did have some moments where I'd run back to the writers' room the next day [after a debate] and say, 'There's some dialogue we have to cross out because it's already happened'", showrunner Shonda Rhimes added. "The election right now is its own thing. You can't make that stuff up."

The new character will debut in the US on 17 March, 9PM on ABC.