President Donald Trump is addressing the growing chatter about a potential return of The Apprentice and he seems to think his eldest son might be the right man for the job.
During a Thursday appearance in the Oval Office, Trump, 79, was asked about reports that the iconic reality competition series could be revived and whether Donald Trump Jr. might step in as host. Rather than dismissing the idea outright, the president acknowledged having heard the buzz and offered a measured but favorable take on his son’s prospects.
Trump noted that the franchise had been a remarkable run 14 seasons that he described as a tremendous success and suggested his son has what it takes to carry that legacy forward. He pointed to his son’s personality as a key asset, saying Don Jr. has enough charisma for the role, while stopping well short of confirming anything was in the works.
Where things actually stand with Amazon
Despite the president’s comments generating fresh interest, the picture behind the scenes is far less certain. Amazon, which acquired MGM in 2022 and with it the rights to The Apprentice back catalog, has been measured in its response to the swirling reports.
A spokesperson for Amazon told People that the show is not currently in active development. The company acknowledged that internal conversations have taken place about the future of the property since the MGM acquisition but stressed that any reporting on specific details including potential hosts remains speculative at this stage.
Adding another layer to the story, a source close to Don Jr., 48, said the reports were the first he had heard of the idea. According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the reboot discussions on April 29, Amazon has not formally approached the Trump family about bringing the show back. If a revival were to happen, it would likely land on Prime Video.
A franchise with deep Trump family roots
The Apprentice holds a unique place in both television history and the Trump family story. Donald Trump hosted the show and its spinoff, The Celebrity Apprentice, from 2004 to 2015, with his children including Ivanka, 44, Don Jr. and Eric making regular appearances throughout the run.
Trump stepped away from the franchise in 2015 when he launched his first presidential campaign. The relationship with NBC soured shortly after, when the network cut ties with him following controversial comments he made about Mexican immigrants. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 78, took over as host of The Celebrity Apprentice in 2017 for a single season.
Schwarzenegger later spoke candidly about the difficulties he faced in that role. He suggested the show became a casualty of political division, with a significant portion of the audience choosing not to watch once they learned Trump remained attached to the project as an executive producer and continued to receive payment from it. He described the period as deeply divisive and felt the show got swept up in that broader tension.
Amazon’s growing investment in Trump related content
The renewed conversation around The Apprentice fits into a wider pattern of Amazon deepening its ties to Trump related media. Beyond its MGM holdings, the company recently made a significant move by purchasing Melania, a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, for a reported $40 million.
Whether or not a reboot ultimately materializes, the speculation alone reflects the enduring cultural footprint of The Apprentice and the ongoing commercial interest in the Trump brand. For now, both the White House and Amazon appear content to let the conversation simmer and fans of the franchise are left watching and waiting.
