Patrick Randak/NBCIf Donald Trump was considering a return to his old hosting gig on The Celebrity Apprentice as a potential back-up plan should his presidential campaign not work out, he might want to reconsider.
NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt, speaking with reporters following his executive session at the network's TCA Summer Press Day 2016, revealed that there was no home for the Republican candidate to return to. "I have no idea if he has a future in television, but he would never be back on The Celebrity Apprentice, if that's the question," he said. "As long as I'm here."
While Greenblatt did concede that Trump would be seen on the network across news programs, just as any other politician is, he wouldn't comment on whether NBC might work with the man again on anything in the entertainment space. "I couldn't answer that at this point," he said.
NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke fielded the same question, thought she wasn't as bullish in her response as Greenblatt was. "I have no idea. I have no idea what our response would be," she said. "I think with him we're taking one sort of day at a time and seeing where he ends up and sort of watching this unfold like all of you. We're not involved in his life and we'll evaluate those things as they come up in the future."
Trump hosted 14 combined seasons of The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice for the network before embarking on his quest for the White House. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will pick up the reins for the upcoming 15th season, The New Celebrity Apprentice, debuting on NBC in January 2017.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)