Media career of Donald Trump

Before entering politics and ultimately becoming the current president of the United States, Donald Trump pursued a career as a media personality. He released several ghostwritten books, most prominently The Art of the Deal (1987). Starting in the 1990s, he was a regular guest on the Howard Stern Show and other talk shows, promoted the professional wrestling company World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment, and made several cameo film and TV appearances. From 2004 to 2015, Trump hosted The Apprentice, a reality show in which contestants competed on business-related tasks.

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Donald Trump
Incumbent
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Books
Main article: Bibliography of Donald Trump

Trump's first ghostwritten book, The Art of the Deal (1987), was on the New York Times Best Seller list for 48 weeks. According to The New Yorker, "The book expanded Trump's renown far beyond New York City, promoting an image of himself as a successful dealmaker and tycoon." Tony Schwartz, who is credited as co-author, later said he did all the writing, backed by Howard Kaminsky, then-head of Random House, the book's publisher.[1] Two further lesser memoirs were published in 1990 and 1997.

Professional wrestling

Trump has had a sporadic relationship with professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment and its owners Vince and Linda McMahon since the late 1980s; in 1988 and 1989, WrestleMania IV and V, which took place at the Atlantic City Convention Hall, were billed in storyline as taking place at the nearby Trump Plaza.[2][3] In 2004, Trump appeared for a live interview at WrestleMania XX, conducted by Jesse Ventura, a former wrestler and former Governor of Minnesota.[2][4]

In 2007, Trump participated in the "Battle of the Billionaires" storyline feud against Vince McMahon, this led to Trump headlining WrestleMania 23.[2][4] At the event, Trump's representative wrestler, Bobby Lashley, defeated McMahon's representative wrestler, Umaga, therefore McMahon was shaved bald by Trump as both men had wagered their hair on the outcome of the match. Guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin then attacked Trump with the Stone Cold Stunner wrestling move.[2] In 2009, Trump participated in a storyline in which he bought WWE's flagship television program WWE Raw from Vince McMahon, then re-sold it back shortly after.[2]

Trump was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.[4] As president, Trump in 2016 appointed Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.[5]

The Apprentice
Trump with Dennis Rodman for Celebrity Apprentice in 2009
Main article: The Apprentice (American TV series)

In 2003, Trump became the co-producer and host of The Apprentice, a reality show in which contestants competed for a one-year management job with the Trump Organization, and Trump weeded out applicants with the catchphrase "You're fired".[6] He later co-hosted The Celebrity Apprentice, in which celebrities competed to win money for charities.[6]

Acting
Main article: Donald Trump filmography

Trump has made cameo appearances in eight films and television shows[7][8] and performed a song as a Green Acres character with Megan Mullally at the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2005.[9] This is due to his demand that he be allowed to cameo in any movie that features Trump Tower, even just in the skyline. Actor Matt Damon claims that these scenes are usually cut in post-production. [10]

Talk shows

Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest about 24 times on the nationally syndicated Howard Stern Show.[11] He also had his own short-form talk radio program called Trumped! (one to two minutes on weekdays) from 2004 to 2008.[12][13] In 2011, he was given a weekly unpaid guest commentator spot on Fox & Friends that continued until he started his presidential candidacy in 2015.[14][15]

See also

References
  1. Mayer, Jane (July 18, 2016). "Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  2. Lelinwalla, Mark (March 4, 2016). "Looking Back At Donald Trump's WWE Career". Tech Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  3. "Donald Trump bio". WWE. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  4. Kelly, Chris; Wetherbee, Brandon (December 9, 2016). "Heel in Chief". Slate. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  5. Pramuk, Jacob (December 7, 2016). "Trump picks wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  6. Grynbaum, Michael M.; Parker, Ashley (July 16, 2016). "Donald Trump the Political Showman, Born on 'The Apprentice'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  7. LaFrance, Adrienne (December 21, 2015). "Three Decades of Donald Trump Film and TV Cameos". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  8. Lockett, Dee (June 21, 2016). "Yes, Donald Trump Did Actually Play a Spoiled Rich Kid's Dad in The Little Rascals". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  9. Shanley, Patrick (September 15, 2016). "Emmys Flashback: When Trump Sang the 'Green Acres' Theme in Overalls". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  10. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/09/02/matt-damon-donald-trump-movie-cameos/628123001/
  11. Kranish, Michael; Fisher, Marc (2017). Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President. Simon and Schuster. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-5011-5652-6.
  12. Silverman, Stephen M. (April 29, 2004). "The Donald to Get New Wife, Radio Show". People. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  13. Tedeschi, Bob (February 6, 2006). "Now for Sale Online, the Art of the Vacation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. Montopoli, Brian (April 1, 2011). "Donald Trump gets regular Fox News spot". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  15. Grossman, Matt; Hopkins, David A. (September 9, 2016). "How the conservative media is taking over the Republican Party". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
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