Complaining about president is exciting (8)
I believe the answer is:
gripping
'is exciting' is the definition.
'complaining about president' is the wordplay.
'complaining' becomes 'griping' (griping is a kind of complaining).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'president' becomes 'p' (common abbreviation eg in VP).
'griping' enclosing 'p' is 'GRIPPING'.
(Other definitions for gripping that I've seen before include "Enthralling" , "Suspenseful" , "Grasping" , "as one's vices may be" , "Holding tightly" .)