On Monday, real estate mogul and perennial non-candidate Donald Trump announced on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” that he would be returning for the show’s next season.
During the show’s finale, in which he crowned former Entertainment Tonight correspondent Leeza Gibbons the winner, Trump announced his hit show had been renewed for a 15th season, the Wrap reported on Wednesday.
NBC confirmed the news from the show’s official Twitter account but did not announce the show’s return date.
This didn’t stop Trump from tweeting only hours later that if he ran for President, “I’ll win.”
If the show follows its usual broadcast schedule, the next season would debut sometime early in 2016. (“Celebrity Apprentice” tends to run once a year, with the past three seasons debuting in January, March, and February, respectively.)
Notably, the reason Trump passed on a run in 2012, after much hype, was that he had committed on his return to “Celebrity Apprentice.”
The news that Trump is re-signing at NBC rather than organizing for a presidential run may surprise conservative outlets such as Newsmax, which has run multiple articles taking the candidate’s 2016 overtures at face value.
In one post, the site advocated for a Trump ticket, calling him a “true conservative” and arguing his “name recognition” could “move middle, independent voters.”
AND, it’s official: #CelebApprentice has been renewed for Season 15! #ApprenticeFinale
— The Apprentice (@ApprenticeNBC) February 17, 2015
By @kwrcrow: “NY Post caught ‘LYING’ Again!” http://t.co/wbFc2AMfIj … “The Donald” should go far.” Actually, if I run, I’ll win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2015
Yes. And Kim Kardashian will be his Veep.
Republicans have allowed their primary process to essentially become a promotional tour for reality tv stars, talk show hosts, and snake oil hucksters.
They must be so proud of themselves!
And if TPM had any brains, they’d stop being lemmings like the rest of the media and refuse to report on the stupid shit he says. He knows full well that he gets free publicity for his show by “threatening” to run for president. Stop enabling the stupid, TPM
NBC should call his bluff and cancel his contract.
charlatan.