Donald Trump, Arnold Schwarzenegger square off over ‘Apprentice’ ratings
Feb 2, 2017, 10:49 AM | Updated: 2:12 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
PHOENIX — President Donald Trump and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger traded blows Thursday over the show “Celebrity Apprentice” and its ratings.
At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., Trump asked attendees to pray for Schwarzenegger and the show’s sinking ratings. Trump, who was the show’s original host, left after announcing his presidential candidacy in 2015.
President Trump cracks joke at National Prayer Breakfast: Let's pray for @Schwarzenegger's 'Apprentice' ratings https://t.co/UYpqI3w42L pic.twitter.com/73fLPClpnz
— CNN (@CNN) February 2, 2017
“They hired a big, big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place and we know how that turned out: The ratings went right down the tubes,” he said. “It’s been a total disaster.”
Trump later said, “I just want to pray for Arnold and those ratings, if we can,” with a laugh.
While some may see the president’s comments as a joke, Schwarzenegger wasn’t too fond of it. He fired back in a video posted to Twitter, saying he and the president should trade jobs so people can sleep at night.
The National Prayer Breakfast? pic.twitter.com/KYUqEZbJIE
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) February 2, 2017
“Hey, Donald. I have a great idea,” he said in the 13-second video. “Why don’t we switch jobs? You take over TV, because you’re such an expert in ratings. I take over your job and people can finally sleep comfortably again.”
The “Apprentice” spat is the latest incident in a feud that has been brewing between the president and Schwarzenegger.
Trump bashed Schwarzenegger in January when the actor took over the show, while Schwarzenegger later endorsed then-Republican presidential candidate John Kasich‘s failed run for the White House.
Schwarzenegger also said he would “not vote for the Republican candidate” after a video of Trump making crude comments about women was posted online.
