Donald Trump Fixing the Economy, One Apprentice at a Time

Mogul announces his next installment of The Apprentice will feature contestants affected by economic downturn

By Natalie Finn Mar 18, 2010 12:00 AMTags
Donald Trump, The ApprenticeNBC/Ali Goldstein

The national unemployment rate is huuuge, and there's at least one man who's confident he can fix that.

Donald Trump and producer Mark Burnett revealed Wednesday that the next installment of The Apprentice will feature 14 contestants, ranging from recent college grads to out-of-work professionals, who have been affected by the economic downturn.

Fine, so long as there's no more Omarosa.

"I am very excited to return to the original premise of The Apprentice," said Trump, who hasn't presided over a noncelebrity version of the show since 2007.

"We've got to do something about the economy, and this is a terrific way to provide jobs as well as business lessons along the way. NBC, Mark Burnett and I hope this economic downturn can begin a turnaround, and we'll do our best with The Apprentice to see that it starts happening. I'm proud to be putting people back to work, and to [be] positively changing the psychology of America."

But while the winner will be hired by one of Trump's companies, as usual, the castoffs will hear more than "you're fired" this time around.

"Instead of just sending them off in a cab, I'm going to sit and talk to them about their future, give them a little advice," Trump promised.

Your country thanks you, Mr. Trump.

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Check out the stars humbling themselves for charity on this season of Celebrity Apprentice.