President-elect Donald Trump plans to still be executive producer of his reality show “Celebrity Apprentice” even after he takes the job as commander-in-chief.
Friday, during an interview on CNN’s New Day, Trump’s advisor Kellyanne Conway said it is “doubtful” the president-elect will collect a salary from the hit reality show, but will continue to help produce the show in his “spare time.” Her comments come amid questions about potential conflicts of interest between the two jobs. (RELATED: ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Stars Talk About The ‘Real’ Donald Trump)
WATCH:
“He’s a very transparent guy,” Conway responded. “Everyone can see what he’s doing. And the fact is that he’s conferring with all types of experts to tell him what he’s allowed to do and not to do as the president of the United States, and if this is one of the approved activities, perhaps he’ll consider staying on.” (RELATED: Trump Wanted O.J. Simpson On ‘Apprentice’)
Kellyanne Conway on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” role as president: He’ll do it in his spare time https://t.co/8hYzlOotQi
— CNN (@CNN) December 9, 2016
Conway then compared the “hours and hours and hours” President Barack Obama spent on the golf course during the last eight years in his free time to Trump spending his time working on the show.
“Okay, but were we so concerned about the hours and hours and hours spent on the golf course of the current president?” Conway said. “I mean, presidents have a right to do things in their spare time or their leisure time, I mean nobody objects to that.”
“I heard you object to Mr. Obama playing golf,” CNN host Alisyn Camerota responded. “Will Mr. Trump not be playing golf for the next four years?”
“Well, maybe he will be,” Conway said. “It certainly seems like there is a lot of time to do based on recent precedent while you’re president the united states. But the point is the same. Whether it’s President Obama or president Donald Trump, the idea that these men are going to be all work and nothing else all the time is just unrealistic because it’s never happened in our lifetimes.”
Update: Saturday morning the president-elect tweeted that the CNN story was not accurate.
“Reports by @CNN that I will be working on The Apprentice during my Presidency, even part time, are ridiculous & untrue – FAKE NEWS,” Trump tweeted.
Reports by @CNN that I will be working on The Apprentice during my Presidency, even part time, are ridiculous & untrue – FAKE NEWS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2016