Trump’s ties to ‘Apprentice’ raises conflict issues for NBC
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s continued stake in television’s “Celebrity Apprentice” adds to questions about potential conflicts between his personal and public responsibilities, while raising new ones about NBC.
If it continues, journalists at NBC News will be covering a president for a corporation whose entertainment division retains ties to the man. The reality show, which returns to NBC’s schedule on Jan. 2 with Arnold Schwarzenegger replacing Trump as host, includes the president-elect as one of its executive producers.
Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway said Friday on CNN that Trump’s ties to the reality show are being reviewed by experts looking into the president-elect’s business ties. She compared Trump’s continued interest in the entertainment industry to President Barack Obama’s off-hours golfing.
“Presidents have a right to do things in their spare time, in their leisure time, and nobody objects to that,” she said.