In a revealing new book, “Apprentice in Wonderland,” author Ramin Setoodeh takes readers on a journey through Donald Trump’s tenure on television before he embarked on his presidential campaign. Within the pages, an intriguing revelation has come to light: Trump expressed a preference for his daughter, Ivanka Trump, to succeed him as the host of “The Apprentice.”
This preference for Ivanka to take the helm of the iconic reality TV show highlights Trump’s inclination to keep the show within the family. Furthermore, the book details Trump’s vision for the show’s future, revealing that he also envisioned roles for his sons, Eric and Don Trump Jr., as advisors in the boardroom segment of the series.
“I said, ‘The best person to hire would be Ivanka Trump,’” said Donald in an excerpt shared via Variety. Donald told the author, “I didn’t press it. But I felt Ivanka would have been by far the best person you could hire.”
“It was going to be the three of us,” stated Eric in the book, adding, “There were talks for a little while about it.” However, the network had different plans, saying, “NBC didn’t like it, because it became like a family thing.”
The Terminator star left the show, explaining, “It had too much baggage by being associated with Donald’s presidency.”
“It’s a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division,” remarked the actor. “But I said, ‘There’s nobody you’re going to hire that will come even close to Ivanka.’ They said, ‘Huh…’ And then they came back with Arnold Schwarzenegger,” revealed Donald.
This familial involvement in “The Apprentice” underscores the deep connection the Trump family had with the show, which served as a significant platform for their public persona and business branding. The narrative of “The Apprentice” took a turn when Arnold Schwarzenegger, the renowned actor and former Governor of California, stepped in as host.
However, Schwarzenegger’s tenure was short-lived. He cited the show’s association with Donald Trump’s presidency as a major factor for his departure, stating that the political baggage attached to the show had alienated viewers and sponsors alike.
Schwarzenegger’s insights, shared in an interview with Empire magazine, reflect the complexities and challenges of disentangling the show from the political image of its former host. “Apprentice in Wonderland” is set to be released on June 18, offering readers an inside look at the interplay between television fame and political ambition.
The book promises to shed light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of “The Apprentice” and the pivotal role it played in shaping public perceptions of the Trump family. As the book hits shelves, it is poised to offer a unique perspective on the intersection of entertainment and politics, through the lens of one of America’s most-watched reality competition series.