Allegations of Trump using N-word towards Black contestant on 'The Apprentice' surface

A former producer of “The Apprentice” has made a claim that former President Donald Trump used a racial slur during filming and it was caught on camera. Bill Pruitt, who worked on the show, stated in an article on Slate that Trump used the N-word to refer to Kwame Jackson, a Black contestant on the first season of “The Apprentice” in 2004.

Pruitt mentioned that he was one of four producers involved in the show’s first two seasons. He also mentioned that he signed a nondisclosure agreement with a potential fine of $5 million, which he believes expired this year.

This claim has been circulating for years. Former "Apprentice" contestant and Trump White House aide, Omarosa Manigault Newman, made a similar allegation in 2018 while promoting her book. She claimed to have heard a tape of Trump using a racist term. However, CNN has not independently confirmed the existence of this tape.

Trump responded to the allegation by tweeting, "I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have."

In his written statement, Pruitt mentioned that Trump used the word during a discussion on camera about Jackson's performance, which included his handling of Manigault Newman. The conversation took place with showrunner Jay Bienstock, Trump employee Carolyn Kepcher, and other producers, including Pruitt.

The conversation was focused on who would win the show’s first season.

Pruitt wrote: “‘Yeah,’ he says to no one in particular, ‘but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?’”

He added that Trump “is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson.”

Jackson would ultimately lose “The Apprentice” to fellow contestant Bill Rancic.

Pruitt described filming the final meeting in the boardroom, where Jackson and Rancic faced scrutiny from Trump, who seemed to favor Rancic. After production wrapped up, they packed up and headed home. Surprisingly, there was no discussion about Trump's comments in the boardroom or the incriminating evidence caught on tape.

In response, Trump's campaign firmly denied Pruitt's allegations.

"This story is completely made up and not true," stated Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign. He added that the same story was circulated back in 2016, but was not taken seriously then and should not be now. Cheung dismissed it as fake news, suggesting that it is being brought up by Joe Biden and the Democrats out of desperation as they are losing the election.

Pruitt also shared an incident involving Trump making comments about the appearance of female camera operators. According to Pruitt, Trump asked one woman to leave an elevator where she was about to film him, stating that she was "too heavy." He also allegedly made a comparison between another woman's appearance and that of his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

According to Pruitt, Trump commented, "There's a beautiful woman behind that camera. That's all I want to look at."

Pruitt described the show as a "long con" centered around Trump's confidence. He noted that the show transformed Trump "from sleazy New York tabloid hustler to respectable household name."

"He appeared on the show showcasing his business skills and wealth, despite his history of bankruptcies. The show portrayed him as a successful and wealthy businessman, but in reality, his businesses had struggled financially. This misleading portrayal of Trump on the competition reality show led to a distorted image of him as a successful entrepreneur. The show unintentionally created a false perception of Trump, his wealth, and his intentions, ultimately contributing to the perpetuation of a fraudulent image of him."

Editor's P/S:

The allegations made by Bill Pruitt, a former producer of "The Apprentice," cast a shadow over the legacy of the show and raise serious questions about the character of former President Donald