Report: ‘Apprentice’ Creator Mark Burnett Plotting Trump Inauguration

On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that President-elect Donald Trump met in his office at Trump Tower on Tuesday with his friend and former colleague Mark Burnett, the reality-TV kingpin who created Trump’s The Apprentice. According to the Times, Burnett was “actively involved in producing the inauguration week festivities,” and his ideas included “a parade up Fifth Avenue, [and] a helicopter ride to Washington from New York” for Trump.

Months ago, following pressure on Burnett to release archival Apprentice footage of Trump in the wake of “pussygate,” Burnett refused and claimed he did not have the ability to do release the tapes. In early November, The Daily Beast reported on how Burnett and his office had been cracking down on Apprentice staff leaks that reflected negatively on Trump (such as this one, and this one).

In October, Burnett put out a damage-controlling statement, claiming, “I am not now and have never been a supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy. I am NOT ‘Pro-Trump,'” and that “my wife and I reject the hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign.” It appears that the bigotry and misogyny are now just water under the bridge for Burnett. His reps did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment.

—Asawin Suebsaeng