YOU’RE TERMINATED!
Schwarzenegger replaces Trump as host of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’
Movie star-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger will replace mogul-turned-politician Donald Trump on The Celebrity
Apprentice, NBC announced Monday.
Although he’s not a billionaire like Trump, the former California governor is a good fit for the show, which will return for the 2016-17 season, the network said.
As governor for two terms, Schwarzenegger managed “more than 300,000 state employees and a state budget in the hundreds of billions,” the press release said. “He has successfully invested in both real estate and sports franchises, and is known to millions globally for his starring role in the
Terminator film franchise. His films, over a six-decade career, have grossed billions of dollars in worldwide box office.”
The news generated tweets spoofing the show’s signature line: “You’re fired!” Others pointed out that Trump, who has railed against undocumented immigrants from Mexico, is being replaced on the show by an immigrant from Austria.
Schwarzenegger issued a statement and tweeted his delight. “I have always been a huge fan of
The Celebrity Apprentice and the way it showcases the challenges and triumphs of business and teamwork. I am thrilled to bring my experience to the boardroom and to continue to raise millions for charity. Let’s get started!”
Schwarzenegger, 68, who left office in 2011, has recently revived his movie career, including starring in another Terminator movie, Terminator
Genisys.
Trump tweeted about the Schwarzenegger news, even though he’s busy being the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president. “Congrats to my friend @Schwarzenegger who is doing next season’s Celebrity
Apprentice. He’ll be great & will raise lots of $ for charity.”
Trump’s burgeoning political career also is one of the reasons he’s no longer the host of The Ce
lebrity Apprentice.
NBC “fired” Trump in July, after his presidential announcement in June included inflammatory rhetoric about Mexico and Mexicans. Besides Apprentice, the network and the real estate mogul also shared ownership of the Miss Universe Organization, including the annual Miss Universe pageant.
“Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump,” the network said at the time.