or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS
OK LogoREALITY TV

Donald Trump Wanted Daughter Ivanka to Take Over for Him on 'The Apprentice' Before NBC Went With Arnold Schwarzenegger

donald trump wanted daughter ivanka take over the apprentice pp
Source: mega

April 3 2024, Published 3:16 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

Donald Trump thought he had the perfect candidate to take over for him on The Apprentice.

In Ramin Setoodeh's upcoming book Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass, the former president revealed he wanted his daughter Ivanka Trump to assume his role on the hit NBC show when he left to focus on his political career in 2015.

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump wanted daughter ivanka take over the apprentice
Source: mega

Donald Trump wanted Ivanka Trump to take over for him on 'The Apprentice.'

"NBC didn’t like it, because it became like a family thing," Trump told the author about wanting to hire his former political advisor for the job. "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."

In 2017, the network launched the new version of the competition series entitled The New Celebrity Apprentice with the actor at the helm. However, the show crashed and burned after one season due to low ratings.

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump wanted daughter ivanka take over the apprentice
Source: Mega

Donald Trump left 'The Apprentice' in 2015.

Article continues below advertisement

"It was going to be the three of us," Eric Trump told Setoodeh about what his father wanted, also referring to brother Donald Trump Jr. "There were talks for a little while about it."

The third oldest Trump offspring noted how everything ended up working out perfectly in the end, as they joined the patriarch on the campaign trail and later in the White House. "I think it’s pretty hard to say we’re going to run with reality TV in a time when you’re talking about ending nuclear proliferation around the world," Eric said. "I’m not sure the two could have worked in tandem."

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump wanted daughter ivanka take over the apprentice
Source: mega

Arnold Schwarzenegger took over for Donald Trump on 'The Apprentice.'

MORE ON:
Donald Trump

Want OK! each day? Sign up here!

Article continues below advertisement

As OK! previously reported, Ivanka has been enjoying her current chapter away from politics and the spotlight. "She is very happy, living her best life," an insider spilled about the businesswoman.

"She left politics totally in the rearview mirror and so this time around, even if her dad is the leading Republican candidate, she basically doesn't care," the source added. "She told him when he said he was going to run again that she didn't want to be involved."

Article continues below advertisement
ivanka trump
Source: mega

Ivanka Trump reportedly took a phone call with her father when the Karen McDougal CNN interview aired.

Article continues below advertisement

Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for!

Article continues below advertisement
Source: OK!
Article continues below advertisement

After spending years dedicated to her dad's political career, Ivanka has chosen herself and her happiness. "The first election, she wanted to support him. She wanted to be a good daughter. She served his administration for four years, but she had enough. She doesn't want to do it anymore," the insider added.

"She's never going to be in politics again," the source explained. "It's a hard position for her. She doesn't agree with everything [Donald Trump] says, but she doesn't want to publicly disagree with him, so she just wants to stay out of it at this stage."

Variety obtained the excerpts from the book.

More From OK! Magazine

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 OK!™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. OK! is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.