Donald Trump the Entertainer: How the US President Used Movie Cameos, The Apprentice to Become Conservative America’s Hero | Hollywood

Donald Trump is to be sworn in as President of the United States for a second term. The 78-year-old beat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a race that started so close but ended up being one-sided as Trump swept through the swing states. Trump is among the most unusual US presidents in that he is not a career politician. His path to the Oval Office was through boardrooms, film roles and television series.

Donald Trump, the entertainer

While he was known as a New York real estate mogul in the 80s, Donald Trump gained national fame through cameo appearances in movies and eventually by starring in reality shows. His first screen appearance was in the 1989 film Ghosts Can’t Do It, before famously playing himself in Home Alone 2. In 1994, he played someone other than himself on screen for the first time in The Little Rascals. He later appeared in popular films such as Zoolander and The Associate. In the 90s, he made 24 appearances on the Howard Stern Show, further increasing his popularity among the masses.

The Apprentice, WWE and international popularity

In 2003, Trump became the host and producer of the reality show The Apprentice. This show was where he revealed his snarky, no-nonsense business tycoon persona. His catchphrase ‘You’re fired’ quickly became part of pop culture, prompting Trump to trademark it. At the height of the show’s popularity, Trump earned $3 million per episode. episode, making him one of the highest paid TV celebrities in the world. Trump hosted The Apprentice until 2015, cementing his place in America’s pop culture. This led to a polarizing appearance in professional wrestling, feuding with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in 2007’s famous ‘Battle of the Billionaires’.

How media appearances helped Trump’s political career

For a long time, Donald Trump was America’s favorite punchline. Even after he announced his intention to run for president in 2016, many considered it a joke. Over the years, Trump has capitalized on his media appearances by walking into America’s living rooms. He was no longer just a billionaire, but a popular personality. He capitalized on this fame, which was different from the image of a politician, and added his ultra-right platform to hit when he launched his candidacy in 2019. The end result was a charismatic, unconventional leader. Many Americans saw him as a break from the two-party system they had long sought. Trump used the skills he had built up as a TV star in his campaign speeches and became the darling of conservative America.

That Trump was able to regain center stage in American politics four years after being defeated and written off speaks volumes for the cult-like following he has created. The genesis of this personality began on the screen three decades ago.