Perceiving his own advancing age and declining strength, Donald Trump is considering having his daughter apprentice and delve deeper into the political arena, constructing a dynasty to be passed on to future generations?

Donald Trump wanted to keep “The Apprentice” in the family following his departure from the reality TV show in 2015.

In the new book “Apprentice in Wonderland,” author Ramin Setoodeh looks back on Trump’s years on the small screen before his decision to run for president. The tome also shares insight into who the politician wanted to replace him on the long-running NBC show.

“I said, ‘The best person to hire would be Ivanka Trump,’” Donald is quoted as saying in an excerpt obtained by Variety.

“I didn’t press it. But I felt Ivanka would have been by far the best person you could hire.”

Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump on "The Apprentice."
Trump thought his daughter was the “best person to hire,” according to a new book.©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump
“I said, ‘There’s nobody you’re going to hire that will come even close to Ivanka,’” Donald told NBC producers at the time.Getty Images
Along with having his daughter at the helm, the 77-year-old wanted sons Eric and Don Trump Jr. to take over as boardroom advisers on the reality competition series.

“It was going to be the three of us,” Eric said in the book. “There were talks for a little while about it.”

The Trump children made regular appearances on the series during its later years, working alongside their famous father.

However, the network apparently “didn’t like” the former president’s suggestion, saying they didn’t want the show to become “a family thing” for the Trumps.

Donald Trump ,Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump
The former president also wanted his sons to have permanent roles on the reality competition series.Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump at the Trump Soho Launch on September 19, 2007 in New York City.
However, network execs allegedly didn’t want the show to become all about the Trump family.WireImage
“But I said, ‘There’s nobody you’re going to hire that will come even close to Ivanka,’” Donald said. “They said, ‘Huh…’ And then they came back with Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

Rather than find jobs in the entertainment industry elsewhere, Donald’s adult children decided to follow him on the campaign trail.

“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.”

Schwarzenegger ultimately replaced Trump as the host of “The New Celebrity Apprentice” in 2017. However, the show only ran for one season.

Donald Trump on "The Apprentice."
Donald left the show in 2015 to run for president.©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump on "the Apprentice."
“I’m not sure the two could have worked in tandem,” Eric Trump said of working on reality TV while also holding office.©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
After the show was canceled, the then-president took to Twitter to slam the “Terminator” star for ruining the once-popular show.

“Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t voluntarily leaving the Apprentice, he was fired by his bad (pathetic) ratings, not by me. Sad end to great show,” Donald tweeted at the time.

However, the former bodybuilder later clapped back at Donald, suggesting that the show’s association with the controversial politician led to its demise.

“When people found out that Trump was still involved as executive producer and was still receiving money from the show, then half the people [started] boycotting it,” he said during an interview with Empire.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on "The Apprentice."
The politician was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.NBC / courtesy Everett Collection

Arnold Schwarzenegger
However, the revamped show came to an end after just one season.©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Schwarzenegger also posted a video to Twitter suggesting that the two “switch jobs.”

“You take over TV because you’re such an expert in ratings and I take over your job and people can finally sleep comfortably,” he said.

“Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass” is set to hit the shelves on June 18.

Related Posts

Disney to Drop Rachel Zegler for Lucy Hale as Snow White? Debunking the Rumor

Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, released on March 21, 2025, has been a lightning rod for controversy, with its star, Rachel Zegler, at the epicenter of heated…

Did Rachel Zegler’s Co-Stars Blame Her for Snow White’s Story Changes? Unpacking the Rumor

Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, starring Rachel Zegler as the iconic princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has been a lightning rod for controversy since…

Disney’s Snow White DISASTER: New Remake Sparks Rachel Zegler’s WILD Breakdown!

The Walt Disney Company has once again stirred the pot with its highly publicized Snow White live-action remake, and the latest developments have sent shockwaves through Hollywood…

‘The Last of Us’ Director Mark Mylod Shares Tearful Experience Filming a Shocking Death Scene, Hinting at Bold Changes from the Game That Will Leave Fans Speechless

Director Mark Mylod was brought to tears filming the heart-breaking final moments of Sunday night’s episode of “The Last of Us.” Gamers who have played “The Last of Us…

Cops Mistake Keanu Reeves for a Vagrant in a Diner—What They Find on His Table Will Shock You!

It was a chilly afternoon in late March 2023, just a few days after the release of John Wick: Chapter 4, which had already begun its climb…

A Little Girl’s Kindness Unveiled: She Shared Her Cookie with a ‘Homeless’ Man—It Was Keanu Reeves!

It was a crisp autumn morning in Los Angeles, the kind where the sun casts a golden glow over the city, and the air smells faintly of…