In a recent interview for Ramin Setoodeh’s upcoming book Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass, Donald Trump made a surprising claim about the late comedian Joan Rivers. Trump asserted that Rivers, who passed away in 2014, voted for him in the 2016 election.
During the interview, Trump reminisced about Rivers, a winner of Celebrity Apprentice in 2009, suggesting she might have been aligned with the Republican Party. “I know one thing: she voted for me, according to what she said,” Trump stated confidently.
However, this assertion contradicts reality, as Joan Rivers was not alive to participate in the 2016 election. Trump first ran for president on November 8, 2016, while Rivers passed away on September 4, 2014, at the age of 81.
The interview also touched on other anecdotes involving Rivers, including her spirited defense of her daughter Melissa when she was fired from Celebrity Apprentice. Trump described Joan Rivers as fiercely protective and vocal in support of her daughter, highlighting moments that made for dramatic television.
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“Joan was so angry,” said Trump. “She went crazy when I fired the daughter.”
“Joan loved Melissa more than anything she’s ever loved before. She thought Melissa was the end-all, and she went totally crazy in defense of her daughter. Oh, they were both yelling. It was great TV. But maybe Joan had more of a right to be yelling.”
Trump’s comments in the interview reflect his ongoing efforts to shape narratives around his interactions with celebrities and his time as host of The Apprentice. The book is set to be published on June 18, promising further insights into Trump’s tenure on the popular reality show.
