- Donald Trump has had conversations with television producer Mark Burnett about creating a politics-themed version of “The Apprentice,” according to The Daily Beast.
- The outlet cited multiple sources who said Trump was nostalgic for his past reality television ventures and had talked about making the spinoff once he leaves office.
- The president and the longtime producer have a longstanding relationship, but Trump denied the claims on Twitter early Saturday morning.
- Visit Businessinsider.com for more stories.
Donald Trump had a tough choice to make back in 2015: To pursue a presidential run, he needed to surrender his starring role in the popular reality television show, “The Apprentice.”
The decision to step down as the show’s host left him “visibly upset,” Sam Nunberg, a former political adviser to Trump, told The Daily Beast. But the goodbye might have only been temporary.
On Thursday, the outlet reported that now-president Trump has talked with ‘The Apprentice’ creator Mark Burnett about creating an ‘Apprentice’ spinoff show once he leaves the White House, citing “three people with knowledge of the situation and another source close to Trump.”
But the president denied the claims early Saturday morning.
"This is not true, never had such a conversation, don't even have time to think about it," Trump tweeted. "False reporting!"
Trump has reportedly had multiple calls with Burnett
The Daily Beast sources said that Trump has had occasional phone calls with Burnett since taking office in 2017. During those calls, he has reportedly discussed ideas for new television projects, including one for a politics-themed version of "The Apprentice."
"There have been several discussions between Burnett and Trump about 'The Apprentice: White House,'" an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation told The Daily Beast. "It is something Burnett thinks could be a money-spinner and Trump is very keen on doing." Another source confirmed these conversations, but added that "the discussion did not go far."
Though Trump flatly denied talks about the show, he referenced talking with Burnett last year at a rally in Ohio.
"I got a call from Mark Burnett," Trump told the crowd. "He's a great guy. He said, 'Donald, I called just to say hello and to tell you, did you see Roseanne's ratings?'"
Trump and Burnett have a longstanding personal relationship as well as a professional one. Burnett's son, Cameron, was the ring-bearer at Trump's wedding to now-First Lady Melania Trump.
When news surfaced in late 2016 that Trump had reportedly made offensive and racist comments about contestants on "The Apprentice," Burnett declined to release the un-aired footage that may have corroborated these claims. But he also issued a statement saying that he did not support Trump's candidacy for president and rejected the "hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign."