Trump Didn’t Think A Black Vs. White ‘The Apprentice’ Would Spark Race War (AUDIO)

When he was still best known as a reality TV star, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump pitched NBC on a season of “The Apprentice” that would have pit black contestants against their white counterparts.

If that idea sounds like a “race war,” Trump wouldn’t agree—because he was confident he’d handle such a competition “very beautifully.”

In a 2005 radio interview with shock jock Howard Stern, which was first flagged by BuzzFeed this week, Trump pitched the show as, “nine blacks against nine whites, all highly educated, very smart, strong, beautiful people.”

In audio of the segment posted online, Trump asks the hosts if they like his big idea.

“Well, I think you’ll have a riot on your hands!” co-host Robin Quivers respondswith a laugh, after Stern says he likes it without hesitation.

“It would be the highest-rated show on television,” Trump replies.

Stern then launches into questions about Trump’s potential show.

“Very dark blacks or light-skinned blacks?” Stern asks.

“Assortment,” Trump responds. “Against whites.”

After Quivers jokingly asks how many blonde contestants would be involved, Trump responds that all the white competitors would be blonde.

As the host continues laughing in the background, Trump cuts through to continue selling his idea.

“This was a thought that was given to us, and I don’t think NBC is thrilled with the idea, with the concept,” he says.

“Wouldn’t that set off a racial war in this country?” Stern asks.

“Actually, I don’t think it would,” the real estate mogul says. “I think it would be handled very beautifully by me. Because, as you know, I’m very diplomatic.”

Trump goes on to say he expects such a show would draw “35 million people a night” and Stern jumps in to say he would watch.

“There’s something wrong with it, but I don’t know, maybe we should think about it,” Trump concludes.

Listen to audio of the interview, via BuzzFeed Politics, below: