As a film enthusiast and someone who had the unique opportunity to spend hours interviewing Donald Trump after he left the White House, I can’t help but be both fascinated and concerned by his recent performance at the Republican National Convention. In my new book, “Apprentice in Wonderland,” I recount the time I spent with Trump during this period, where he reminisced endlessly about his days as a reality TV star on “The Apprentice.”
At a lengthy speech during Thursday evening’s convention, Donald Trump spoke extensively. Sweating profusely and wearing a bandage over his right ear from a recent assassination attempt, Trump continued to share his thoughts in great detail. He spoke fluently and at length, expressing himself extensively.
Before a rapt audience, both the devoted followers in Milwaukee and those still tuned in at home, the 45th and potential 47th President spoke sparingly about his plans should he secure four more years in office. However, Trump has never let facts hinder him. The limelight was what truly mattered to him. Trump addressed America once more through his preferred medium: television. With the camera trained on him following a lengthy hiatus, did the specifics of his speech even matter? For an hour and a half of unfiltered ramblings, filled with detours and perplexing digressions, Trump appeared to take pleasure in reminiscing about the past – a time when he was simply a well-known television personality.
In my latest publication titled “Apprentice in Wonderland,” I share the lengthy conversations I had with Trump post his departure from the White House. During this period where he was largely absent from the limelight, Trump willingly granted me detailed interviews. The focus of my book seemed to intrigue him greatly, leading him to engage in numerous discussions – at times even heatedly – about how “The Apprentice,” a reality TV show on NBC produced by Mark Burnett, catapulted his fame.
During our interactions, Trump seemed more engrossed in discussing the latest scandals and news about the Kardashians, Joan Rivers, Jeff Zucker, Omarosa, and Dennis Rodman. This was not surprising, as fame held great significance for him. Trump once shared with me his astonishment over how some of his wealthiest associates struggled to secure tables at popular restaurants. He pondered, “What use is all that wealth if you can’t even snag a decent table for dinner?”
At the Republican National Convention, Trump orchestrated an event reminiscent of his past as a “ratings sensation,” according to his own description. The convention bore the mark of Mark Burnett, the producer behind Trump’s fame with “The Apprentice.” Trump kept the vice presidential selection process suspenseful, announcing JD Vance as his running mate mere hours before the convention began. In contrast to previous nominees, Trump appeared on the final night of the convention, sporting a bandage on his right ear from a weekend attack. The media and cameras surrounded him, creating an atmosphere akin to a boxer’s entrance into the ring.
Trump viewed the extended nomination speech as beneficial publicity, disregarding the idea of negative exposure. On Thursday, he amplified the speech to an impressive scale, presenting another peculiar spectacle for the audience. This scene brought to mind the business tycoon from “The Apprentice,” who longed for Emmy recognition despite losing out to “The Amazing Race.” During his convention appearance, Trump entered with a neon sign bearing his name in bold letters, reminiscent of Roxie Hart’s spotlight moment in “Chicago,” where she sang, “Everyone will be talking about me, it’ll be all about me.”
Trump derived great pleasure from turning personal misfortunes into ratings gold. He transformed the most distressing moment of his life – surviving an assassination attempt on a Saturday afternoon in Butler, PA – into an captivating narrative for TV audiences. In the opening act of his convention speech, Trump assumed the roles of interviewer and interviewee, sharing this story exclusively with the audience. With vivid detail, Trump described the harrowing experience of bullets whizzing by him, brushing against death.
“I was taken aback, exclaiming aloud, ‘That had to be a bullet!’ Trump declared dramatically. A bullet had barely brushed against his ear, leaving him with a bloody wound. In an odd way, he felt a strange sense of security. He believed he had divine protection. Following this, Trump took a few steps towards the podium and kissed the firefighter’s uniform, which belonged to Corey Comperatore. It’s plausible that, like many props from ‘The Apprentice,’ this uniform was merely a replica for television, bearing an error in the spelling of the firefighter’s last name.”
Trump’s momentum weakened without a surprising development, and at times during our interactions, it was challenging to keep up with his stream-of-consciousness ramblings. Topics ranged from COVID-19 to criticisms of Debra Messing and Martha Stewart, among others who opposed him during his presidency. During the convention speech, Trump repeated a familiar campaign slogan about illegal immigrants entering America through asylums, followed by an unrelated comment about “the late, great Hannibal Lecter,” a fictional character known for living in a mental institution.
Trump frequently boasts, “I’m the one safeguarding democracy for our nation,” while highlighting a court decision dismissing his classified documents case in Florida. He persistently accused Democrats of election manipulation. His promises included reducing taxes, controlling inflation, and supporting the auto industry. However, his message lacked cohesion or eloquence. It appeared that this performer was growing tired of reciting the same lines over and over again.
As I sat there, listening intently to the convention speeches, I couldn’t help but notice Trump’s growing fatigue. Even the crowd seemed to be losing steam as the hours passed. Throughout the event, I had observed Trump dozing off during some of the presentations. But now, as midnight approached for East Coast viewers, his energy levels didn’t seem to be at their peak.
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2024-07-19 08:46