Donald Trump: How reality TV and prime-time cameos helped get him to the White House – could it happen again? | US News


“My name is Donald Trump and I’m the largest real estate developer in New York. I own buildings all over the place. I’ve mastered the art of the deal and turned the name Trump into the highest-quality brand.”

This is how Donald Trump introduced himself in the opening credits of The Apprentice when it first aired on 8 January 2004.

He was already a well-known businessman, having turned his father Fred’s rental company into a billion-dollar real estate empire. His turbulent finances – and love life – had also gained him notoriety in the tabloid press.

But it was his 11 years on The Apprentice that many say solidified his reputation – and paved the way to his shock White House win of 2016 – and second attempt at the presidency this year.

In his Trump Tower office in 2012. Pic: AP
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In his Trump Tower office in 2012. Pic: AP

‘My jet’s going to be in every episode’

When NBC first had the idea for The Apprentice, Donald Trump was one of many moguls who would sit at the boardroom table – with others proposed to front future series.

But having negotiated a 50% stake in the show and the episodes being filmed in Trump Tower, potential successors were soon shelved – and Trump stayed at the helm for 14 seasons.

According to reports, filming for the first episode, “Meet The Billionaire”, overran by hours, and Trump would call the channel at 6am the day after each one aired to get the earliest viewing figures.

Seemingly laser-focused on how the show could promote his businesses, he reportedly told TV bosses at the time: “My jet’s going to be in every episode. Even if it doesn’t get the ratings, it’s still going to be great for my brand.”

Donald Trump and Mark Burnett during The Apprentice.
Pic: Trump Prod/Mark Burnett Prod/Kobal/Shutterstock
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WithMark Burnett on The Apprentice.
Pic: Trump Prod/Mark Burnett Prod/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Further episodes were entitled “Sex, Lies and Altitude” and “Ethics Schmethics”.

Meanwhile, his opening voiceover acknowledged his previous financial difficulties, claiming, “It wasn’t always easy,” and that “15 years ago I was seriously in trouble… billions of dollars in debt”.

But he then exclaimed: “I fought back and I won… bigly.

“I used my brain and my negotiating skills and I worked it all out. Now my company is the biggest and strongest it ever was. And I’m having more fun than I ever have.”

Pic :AP
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At an NBC event for The Apprentice in 2015. Pic: AP

During his time on the show, he battled bankruptcies, court cases, and personal scandal.

But with 20 million viewers in the first year alone, his ‘The Donald’ persona and ‘You’re fired’ catchphrase is what many Americans knew and remembered him for.

Fresh Prince and Sex And The City

After rebranding his father’s business empire the Trump Organization in 1971, he was often pictured with celebrities at parties and married Czech model and athlete Ivana Zelnickova in 1977.

With first wife Ivana. Pic:MediaPunch /AP
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With first wife Ivana. Pic:MediaPunch /AP

His longstanding feud with then New York mayor Ed Koch often played out in newspaper and magazine interviews – also helping ensure he stayed in the public eye.

Meanwhile, throughout the 1980s and 1990s he bought casinos, hotels, and golf courses – as well as an American football team, 282ft yacht, and the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants.

Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe Organization, gives Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean, her sash during a news conference announcing that Prejean would retain her title in New York May 12, 2009. Prejean had been the recent subject of controversy regarding photographs from earlier in her modeling career and statements regarding marriage she made during the Miss USA pageant. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE   REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS)
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With Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean, in 2009. Pic: AP

Donald Trump (C) poses with Miss Universe Beauty Queens (L-R) Flaviana Matata, Angela Martini, Rosanna Purcell, Susie Castillo, Shandi Finnessey, Amelia Vega, Dayanna Mendoza, Justine Pasek, Riyo Mori, Crystle Stewart, Zana Krasniqi, Marigona Dragusha, and Chloe Martaud during the pageant photoshoot in New York, July 27, 2011. REUTERS/Jamie Fine (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS)
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With Miss Universe candidates in 2011. Pic: AP

During the 1990s, he also started making cameos on TV.

When the Home Alone sequel Lost In New York was released in 1992, both Trump and one of his biggest assets – Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel – were featured.

In 1994 he and his second wife, actress and TV presenter Marla Marples, played themselves in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Marla Maples gets a kiss from Donald Trump at the stage door of the Palace Theater in New York following a performance of "Will Rogers Follies," Aug. 3, 1992. Maples, who plays the role of "Ziegfeld's Favorite" in the musical, took over the role in the Tony Award-winning show from Cady Huffman, who was nominated for a Tony for her part. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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With second wife Marla Maples in New York in 1992. Pic: AP

As prospective buyers of the family home, Will Smith’s on-screen cousin Carlton screams: “It’s The Donald, oh my god!” before fainting, before his sister Hilary says: “You look much richer in person.”

When he appeared in the sitcom The Nanny in 1996, his team is reported to have asked scriptwriters to change the reference to him from a millionaire to a billionaire.

He also made appearances in the film The Little Rascals and as a business contact of a rich older man trying to seduce Kim Cattrall’s character Samantha in Sex And The City.

Donald Trump and Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2.
Pic:20thCentFox/Everett/Shutterstock
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With Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2. Pic:20thCentFox/Everett/Shutterstock

Real estate magnate Donald Trump makes a sweeping gesture as he tapes a guest appearance for a Mothers Day episode on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," in New York, April 13, 1993.  
Pic: AP
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On Saturday Night Live in 1993. Pic: AP


Meanwhile, the Trump empire was suffering major financial difficulty.

The US recession of the early 1990s hit Trump’s businesses and he eventually accumulated $5bn (£3.8bn) in debt.

He was forced to sell his airline, yacht, and take out third mortgages on most of his properties, with many banks refusing to do business with him as a result.

Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs (R) accepts an award from the Rush Philanthropic Foundation for his efforts to support public education and dedication to youth and social activism,  from Donald Trump and his wife Melania (L) at Trump's Trumps Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida on March 11, 2005.
Pic: Reuters
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With P Diddy and wife Melania in Florida in 2005. Pic: Reuters

In the 1990s and 2000s, Trump filed for bankruptcy six times.

Deutsche Bank came to his rescue, however, when they entered the US market in the early 2000s offering him millions in credit to fund Trump Tower among other projects.

Away from business, in 2005, Trump married his third wife, Melania.

Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Pic: AP
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Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Pic: AP

Dropped by Apprentice over Mexico claims

Trump had flirted with politics from 2000, running as a candidate for the fringe Reform Party in the California and Michigan primaries.

That year, he also published a book called The America We Deserve, in which he expressed a series of conservative political views.

Over the next decade, he registered as both a Republican and a Democrat.

Real estate developer and Reform Party presidential hopeful Donald Trump sits with model Melania Knauss before the Miami Heat-Washington Wizards game  in 1999
Pic: Miami Herald/AP
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With wife Melania during his Reform Party days in 1999. Pic: Miami Herald/AP

He made moves towards another presidential bid, this time as a Republican, in 2011, but ultimately declared he wouldn’t run.

Despite his failure to progress, he received widespread attention for promoting ‘birtherism’ – a conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama was not born in the US.

The start of Trump’s political career marked the end of his time on The Apprentice.

In June 2015, NBC dropped him from the show over comments during his campaign launch speech about US Mexican immigrants being “rapists” and “bringing drugs”.

It was during this speech that he first vowed to “Make America Great Again”, having declared the American Dream “dead”.

Wearing a MAGA hat in March 2016 in Arizona. Pic: AP
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Wearing a MAGA hat in March 2016 in Arizona. Pic: AP

His campaign was overseen by the right-wing media figure Steve Bannon, who he appointed chief executive in mid-2016. In rally speeches, he made promises to “build a wall” along the US-Mexico border and throw his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton in prison over claims she was “crooked”.

He trailed in the opinion polls and an audio clip from 2005 appeared to reveal him bragging about sexually assaulting women.

But despite many failing to take him seriously, the race narrowed and Clinton suffered a shock defeat, paving the way for a Trump White House in January 2017.

Hillary Clinton gives her concession speech in New York after losing the 2016 election. Pic: Reuters
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Hillary Clinton gives her concession speech in New York after losing the 2016 election. Pic: Reuters

Twitter president

Trump continued causing controversy when he entered the Oval Office.

He often bypassed official communication channels, preferring to make formal policy announcements on Twitter instead.

With wife Melania and daughter Tiffany at his 2017 inauguration. Pic: AP
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With wife Melania and daughter Tiffany at his 2017 inauguration. Pic: AP

Domestically, he made moves to dismantle Obamacare, and shifted the political makeup of the Supreme Court by nominating three conservative justices, which has since led to the overturning of constitutional abortion rights through Roe v Wade.

He quickly imposed what was dubbed a ‘Muslim ban’, temporarily stopping immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Abroad, he withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and fundamentally changed trade relations with China and other key states.

He was praised for spearheading the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain, and many hoped would help move closer to peace for Israel-Palestine.

Despite declaring he had “made peace in the Middle East”, however, he also withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal.

With the leaders from Israel (left), UAE (second right), and Morocco (right) at the White House in 2020. Pic: Reuters
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With the leaders from Israel (left), UAE (second right), and Morocco (right) at the White House in 2020. Pic: Reuters

Meanwhile, his 2016 election campaign was investigated for alleged Russian interference. More than 30 people were charged, with his former attorney Michael Cohen among those sent to prison. Trump himself was never indicted and the special counsel probe failed to show any criminal collusion.

He was impeached twice – the first time in 2019 after an inquiry found he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on his 2020 election rival Joe Biden – and the second time over the 6 January insurrection.

His handling of the coronavirus pandemic was widely criticised – but supported by libertarians, mask and vaccine sceptics.

On the White House balcony in October 20210. Pic: AP
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On the White House balcony in October 2020. Pic: AP

Despite contracting the virus in October 2020, he repeatedly referred to it as the “China virus” and made false claims that bleach could cure it.

At the November election, Trump got 74 million votes – more than any other sitting president in history – but lost by seven million overall.

Insurrection, impeachments and indictments

Trump immediately disputed the 2020 election result, claiming widespread electoral fraud in multiple states.

His “stop the steal” campaign culminated in a “Save America” rally at Washington DC’s National Mall on 6 January 2021.

Ahead of the formal verification of votes by the Electoral College, Trump urged supporters to “fight like hell”, vowing “we will never concede” and “we are going to the Capitol”.

Donald Trump supporters at his Save America rally on 6 January 2021. Pic: Reuters
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Trump supporters at his Save America rally on 6 January 2021. Pic: Reuters

When the rally ended, a mob descended on the Capitol, breaking into buildings, making death threats, and causing damage.

Six people died as a result, Trump was impeached for a second time, and he faced both criminal and civil lawsuits.

Trump supporters scale the wall of the Capitol Building in Washington DC on 6 January 2021. Pic: Reuters
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Trump supporters scale the wall of the Capitol Building in Washington DC on 6 January 2021. Pic: Reuters

The aftermath saw Trump largely abandoned by the Republican Party.

He refused to attend his successor’s inauguration and was banned by nearly all mainstream social media platforms, leading him to set up his own – Truth Social – in 2022.

Momentum began to build against him legally – and he faced criminal cases for alleged electoral fraud in Georgia, the removal of classified documents in Florida, and ‘hush money’ over an affair with former adult film star Stormy Daniels in New York.

Adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2005. Pic: AP
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Adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2005. Pic: AP

The Florida case was thrown out but he became the first US president in history to be convicted when he was found guilty in the hush money case. He is yet to be sentenced.

Separately, he lost two civil lawsuits in New York – one for sexually assaulting and defaming the writer E Jean Caroll and a second for overvaluing his business assets to secure bank loans. The fines for both totalled almost £350m.

Mugshot from the Fulton County Sherriff's Office in Georgia. Pic: AP/Fulton County Sherriff
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Mugshot from the Fulton County Sherriff’s Office in Georgia. Pic: AP/Fulton County Sherriff

Comeback

After the insurrection, Republican donors, congressmen and women effectively disowned Trump and he was blamed for the party’s results in the 2022 midterm elections.

But he remained popular with the grassroots, and had a more direct line to them when Elon Musk took over Twitter, reinstating Trump’s account.

Trump used the criminal cases against him to fuel his anti-establishment image and amid poor approval ratings for Joe Biden and a lack of another clear candidate, he re-emerged as a serious contender for the Republican nomination.

An emotional Joe Biden delivers a speech to the 2024 Democratic National Convention Pic: AP
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Joe Biden at the 2024 Democratic National Convention Pic: AP

Donald Trump.
Pic: AP
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Raising a fist as security agents try to shield him in Pennsylvania. Pic: AP

At the same time, Mr Biden’s age and mental capacity came increasingly into question.

And after confusing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Russia’s Vladimir Putin – and a disastrous TV debate, during which Trump said “I don’t think he knows what he said”, he was forced to pull out of the 2024 race.

Trump’s narrow escape from an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally emboldened him and his supporters further.

RNC delegates wear fake ear bandages in support of Donald Trump
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Republican supporters wear solidarity ear bandages for Trump at the party convention. Pic: AP

His defiant raised fist and ear injury became symbols of the subsequent Republican Convention, where he formally accepted the party’s nomination and his most loyal followers sported solidarity ear bandages.

He now faces Kamala Harris for the presidency and a second shot at the White House on 5 November.



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