Donald Trump gained notoriety through his role on The Apprentice, a reality television series that famously introduced his iconic line, “You’re fired!” Fast forward to the present day, and he has harnessed that recognition to launch a campaign for the presidency of the United States, ultimately achieving victory. This has proven disastrous for the nation, and Trump is now preparing to once again steer the country in a negative direction.
Now, John D. Miller, the former NBC marketing executive behind The Apprentice, expresses profound regret for having “helped create a monster.” In a recent op-ed for U.S. News & World Report, he offered an apology to the American people while detailing how the show cultivated a misleading image of Trump as a savvy businessman.
Miller stated, “Trump had declared business bankruptcy four times before the production of the show, and at least twice more during his 14-season run.” He also noted that the iconic boardroom where Trump was seen firing contestants was actually a set, as his authentic boardroom was too outdated for television audiences.
He further highlighted that most genuine “successful CEOs” tend to shy away from reality television, but Trump was drawn to it—particularly due to the way the producers flattered him. “The portrayal of Trump that we created was significantly embellished. In a sense, it was ‘fake news’ that we disseminated across the nation like a harsh blizzard,” Miller recalled. “I never anticipated that the image we crafted of Trump as a thriving businessman would propel him to the presidency.”
Miller shared his candid assessment of the Trump he knew, describing him as “manipulative, yet remarkably easy to manipulate.” He pointed to Trump’s dealings with figures like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as clear examples of this dynamic. He also criticized Trump’s pattern of dishonesty, referencing his harsh misinformation campaign against Haitian migrants and his false claims about winning the 2020 election.
“My experience working with him taught me that he has questionable judgment,” Miller continued. “During the wrap party for The Apprentice’s third season, he suggested a concept for a future season involving Black contestants competing against white contestants. My immediate reaction was: WTF?!” While this proposal never materialized, Trump’s ongoing racial comparisons and attitudes remain evident.
Miller concluded his piece with another apology, adding one for the delay in his admission, and urged citizens to support Kamala Harris in upcoming elections. He expressed hope that many would echo the words “You’re fired”to Donald Trump once more.
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