Trump dubbed ‘narcissist’ as he says ‘The Apprentice’ taught him with good ratings ‘you can be most horrible human being’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In an in-depth exploration of Donald Trump's tenure on 'The Apprentice', journalist Ramin Setoodeh's new book has sparked a wave of online ridicule directed at the former president, as per The Wrap.

Setoodeh's 'Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass,' released on June 18, 2023, portrays Trump as a figure caught between his past celebrity life and his pursuit of political power.

Donald Trump claims good ratings an excuse to being 'meanest, most horrible human being'

Setoodeh first approached Trump about the book in March 2021, shortly after Trump left Washington, DC, as a twice-impeached former president. Trump was eager to discuss his time on 'The Apprentice', telling Setoodeh, "It’s all about one thing: ratings. If you have ratings, you can be the meanest, most horrible human being in the world."

According to Setoodeh, Trump was enthusiastic about the project, offering extensive interviews and even promising to promote the book at his political rallies. "You’ll sell 10,000 books at one rally. Let’s see how this works out," Trump assured him.

However, the release of 'Apprentice in Wonderland' painted Trump in a less flattering light, describing him as "a lonely and sometimes dotty man, longing for the days when he was still accepted by his fellow celebrities, even as he seems to crave political power".

Setoodeh spent considerable time with Trump, including four in-person afternoons and two phone interviews, with the last session occurring in November 2023. During these interactions, Setoodeh observed Trump's struggles with short-term memory, noting that Trump failed to recall previous meetings with him.

Setoodeh found that Trump remains deeply nostalgic about his pre-presidency celebrity life. "I was really surprised by how much he was still fixated on celebrity culture and how much celebrity still means to him," Setoodeh remarked.

Trump reportedly bragged about having "secret voters" in Beverly Hills who wouldn't publicly admit to supporting him.

Trump's pride in 'The Apprentice' endured, even in the face of personal loss. When his sister Maryanne Trump Barry passed away, Trump merely delayed his scheduled interview with Setoodeh by an hour, using the time to highlight how much his sister loved the show.

Setoodeh recounted this anecdote on 'Inside with Jen Psaki,' emphasizing that his book represents "the most on-the-record access Trump gave any journalist since leaving the White House."

Donald Trump sparks trolling for claiming good ratings allow horrible behavior

The internet was swift and brutal in its reaction to Trump's claim of good ratings excusing bad behavior.

One X user lambasted Trump, writing, "Trump is not presidential. He’s not a leader. He’s a narcissist who craves attention. He’s a useful idiot for the Heritage Foundation’s extremist patriarchal manifesto for white Christian nationalist white men to rule over all Americans. It’s not even Republican vs Democrat."

Another user commented, "If 'people' means 'himself.' Reality TV was the only winning he ever did. Now he's like a washed up athlete stuck forever in high school."

A third user drew a parallel between Trump's role on 'The Apprentice' and his political ambitions, writing, "The point of the Apprentice was for participants to grovel before Donald, then get abased by him. He wants to replicate that image and role as president. In his fantasies, Donald sees himself as a 'star' like Putin and Kim Jung Un, a Supreme Leader, or perhaps the Wizard of Oz."

A fourth user posted, "He thinks he's auditioning for a TV show."

Another user mentioned, "He’s just not that entertaining anymore. Ugly, old, fat, his voice grates. No thanks."

On Facebook, one user dismissed Trump's claims about 'The Apprentice,' saying, "He's so stupid about that dumb show. They didn't have great ratings the whole time. Just another lie Donnie tells."

Another user wrote, "Trump shows us again why he is a sorry excuse for a human being," while yet another implored, "Somebody please make him go away. We are so sick of looking at his disgusting face & hearing his obnoxious voice."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.