Trumped: The Apprentice Special – Murtz Jaffer Interviews Donald Trump Jr.

Features, Shows

When I interviewed Donald Trump, I said that it was the first indication that I had made it in the world of journalism. Now a year later, I can say the same thing. When you talk to any Trump, it is a conversation unlike any other and it was great talking to Donald Trump Jr. about the newest season of The Apprentice which premieres Sunday night on NBC at 9:30 PM EST. The Executive Vice-President of Development & Acquisitions is very focused, sharp, driven and to the point. It was a pleasure talking to him and I hope you enjoy reading.

Murtz Jaffer: Hey Donald, it’s Murtz.

Donald Trump Jr.: Hey, how are you?

MJ: Not too bad. How are you?

DTJ: Not too bad, not too bad.

MJ: You sound busy

DTJ: Always. It’s crazy!

MJ: Do you want to get right into it?

DTJ: Let’s do it.

MJ: You obviously have the most famous last name in the world. What is it like working with your dad?

DTJ: Well, you know, it’s been incredible. Ironically it’s been a great thing for our relationship. He’s always been such a business-oriented guy that actually working for him, I actually have a much better personal relationship with him than I ever did just being his child. So it’s been an amazing experience that way. I think talking about deals and business, it’s allowed us to stem into other conversations we would have never otherwise had. Again, he’s not a very conventional father so in talking about business and dealing with business, things arrive and conversations happen that would never otherwise really have occurred. And it’s been an amazing experience. And I think working with him and doing some of the projects and working on the projects that we do daily, it’s just amazing. We get to work on the sexiest projects all over the world whether that be in real estate or I guess entertainment now. So it’s really been a great time and I enjoy every moment of it. It’s great being able to wake up in the morning and love going to work.

MJ: As a kid, was he the one who taught you to how to ride a bike, how to drive a car?

DTJ: No.

MJ: (Laughs).

DTJ: Not even close.

MJ: You and your sister have filled in on The Apprentice before, but this is the first season where you will be the permanent advisors. What was the experience like?

DTJ: It was a great experience I think. Watching The Apprentice, the one thing that is amazing about it that you don’t get to see is how hard these guys actually work. When you’re in there filling in and you’re there now full-time watching these kids work, you really appreciate how much effort they put into the tasks and how long they are really working. I mean it’s non-stop for the whole period of time. Almost 24 hours a day. It’s really amazing. Being in there, filling in full-time, you get to really appreciate I think what the average viewer doesn’t get to even see in an hour of television every night.

MJ: People are used to seeing Carolyn and George in the boardroom but what are the differences that you and Ivanka will bring?

DTJ: I am sure there is an element of youthfulness that we add. That kind of youthful perspective that may not have been there before but I think the other thing is that we are so Trump-programmed. I mean it’s what we know, we have been watching our father, me for 29 years, Ivanka for 25 years, we just understand and think almost the same way. I guess it’s one of these things, whether genetically or just by sheer proximity we know exactly what he is doing and when. I think we add a little bit more of that element and that’s really what makes the show so special. Adding that family side and having people see that we are fully part of the business, we are fully integrated in everything that goes on. That adds a different element and is certainly well-liked by the viewershop.

MJ: Some of the candidates are older than you on this season. Did they ever have a problem warming up to people advising them like you and Ivanka (who are younger)?

DTJ: I don’t think so. If they did, it would be a serious mistake on their part. That would be what we call a ‘major tactical error.’

MJ: (Laughs).

DTJ: But it happens all the time in business. People see myself, they see Ivanka and they say ‘oh, it’s just Trump’s kids.’ Here’s some spoiled little rich kids. If they think that, I usually am thrilled. Because it’s a position of leverage. When someone underestimates you, it’s always great because it’s very easy to surprise them and end up on top. And so when people think that it’s usually a great thing. I think in this sense, we’re across the boardroom from these contestants so if they were to kind of look at us that way and it would be perceived as that by us, I don’t think it would bode very well for them at all.

MJ: Who was tougher in the boardroom? You, your sister or your dad? Obviously your dad, but what about between you two?

DTJ: I think obviously our father, but I think Ivanka and I are probably again, often cut from the same board. I think just depending on the circumstances, what you see is what you are going to get. I think a lot of that will come into play and I guess you’ll see in time. I guess it really depends on how they edit the show because what’s amazing is that sometimes the boardrooms go on for two and three hours and ultimately people in the editing room will choose what they perceive to be the best few seconds. Sometimes, I am thinking that you have to have the whole thing on. I know my father says that for some of these things, you just need a two-hour boardroom because they get that heated. I don’t know. I guess we will have to find out.

MJ: I have heard that one of your objectives in the Trump organization is to make it less New York-centric. Is The Apprentice: LA the first step in that direction and why do you want to do that?

DTJ: Well, I don’t think The Apprentice: LA is the first step in that direction. I think before The Apprentice 1 even aired we were doing projects in Florida, doing projects in Las Vegas, Chicago so we already made that transition. Again, we are a real estate company not an entertainment company. The show has been great. It’s certainly been amazing for the brand and revitalized the brand but I think when we say that, we are really talking about the real estate aspect of which the show has been helpful but we are developers first and television personality second, third or fourth maybe.

MJ: Is moving The Apprentice to LA a change just in general for the show?

DTJ: I think it is a change. It sets you up for different kinds of tasks. Some things that are exciting but that you wouldn’t get in New York. Entertainment-based. You have very different natural settings. Cinematography and everything. It’s just a little bit of a change. When you have had as many seasons in New York as you have had and you have seen, and they have all gone incredibly well, there is time for a change. A lot of the show can be very different just by changing that setting and I think the idea for the next season would be to do it in another setting. I don’t know if that’s LA again or Miami, Las Vegas somewhere else. I think that change of scenery really makes a difference with the audience and I think that it can attract different people.

MJ: Some of the things that are different on this season involve the whole winning team gets to stay in the suite and the losing team has to camp out. Do you think that the focus is still on business or is it kind of more reality TV now?

DTJ: I think the focus is on business. Again, I think what ultimately happens there is if you don’t just go back up to the apartment and sleep in a plush bed, but if you are all of a sudden saying that if I lose, I am stuck outdoors for the next week (Laughs). It’s kind of a big motivator! It’s going to be the old trial-by-fire methodology and I think that kind of motivator is really going to change the way that people perform and the way that they step up. I think they are less likely to say ‘okay, what’s the worst that can happen? We go to the boardroom and somebody gets fired.’ Well, that only affects one person the person that ultimately gets fired. This affects the entire losing team. It’s a motivator. If someone is coasting by and saying ‘well, this guy clearly messed up this task,’ it gives them the incentive to try to step up and really recover that rather than saying ‘well it’s going to be him or him or her that’s gone. I am fine, so let me just coast the rest of the way.’ It really makes them step up to the plate.

MJ: It’s kind of (in a sense) like the dad who throws his kid out when the kid doesn’t get a job.

DTJ: Right. I think the show will never be a reality TV show in that sense where it’s just kind of looking for pure effect. It is a business show. There’s business schools and classes taught in MBA programs that use examples from The Apprentice as methodologies to teach various things about business. I thinkt hat this is just a motivator to get people to work all that much harder to get people’s true colors to be shown and see everyone’s performance in the best way possible.

MJ: Are there any candidates who particularly stand out?

DTJ: There’s a couple. But I think you will have to watch the show and see.

MJ: Why should people watch this season?

DTJ: I think you have a very unique cast of characters. I think you’re kind of going back to that Season 1 mentality where you have some people that really stand out and are unique people. I think there are not just blowhards though. They actually have the ability to go far in the show and some of them do. It will be really exciting to watch that play out.

MJ: What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?

DTJ: (Laughs). I think we have about 33 various real estate deals going on all over the world and again, that is my primary focus. I do this as a little bit of an aside. My father asked myself and Ivanka to do the show. We both put it off for a little bit and you can only say no to him for so long and we tried. It is quite interesting, it’s been very fun. But our focus is being real estate developers, building projects all over the world. Whatever happens to be going on and whatever we happen to be working on, there’s not one particular focus. We have so much on our plate and getting them all to happen and all be successful projects is our primary motivator.

Sir Linksalot: The Apprentice

Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.