Donald Trump, entertainer

While he was best known as a real estate mogul in New York in the ’80s, Donald Trump rose to national fame by making cameo appearances in films and eventually starring in reality shows. His first on-screen appearance was in the 1989 film Ghosts Can’t Do It, before he famously played the role in Home Alone 2. In 1994, he played someone other than himself on screen for the first time in The Little Rascals. He later appeared in popular films such as Zoolander and The Associate. In the 90s, he appeared on the Howard Stern Show 24 times, further increasing his popularity with the public.

The Apprentice, WWE, and international popularity

In 2003, Trump became the host and producer of the reality show, The Apprentice. In this show he unveiled his cheeky, no-nonsense business magnate persona. His catchphrase ‘You’re fired’ soon became part of pop culture, leading Trump to trademark it. At the peak of the show’s popularity, Trump earned $3 million per episode, making him one of the highest-paid TV personalities in the world. Trump hosted The Apprentice until 2015, cementing his place in America’s pop culture. This led to a polarizing situation in professional wrestling, where he feuded with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in the famous 2007 ‘Battle of the Billionaires’.

How did media presence help Trump’s political career?

Donald Trump was America’s favorite punchline for a long time. Even after he made public his intention to run for president in 2016, many considered it a joke. Over the past few years, Trump has harnessed his media presence by entering America’s living rooms. He was no longer just a billionaire but a popular personality. He took advantage of this fame, which was at odds with his image as a politician, and added it to his far-right platform as a hit when he announced his candidacy in 2019. The end result was a charismatic, unconventional leader. Many Americans saw him as a break from the two-party system they had long sought. Trump used the skills he developed as a TV star in his campaign speeches and became the darling of conservative America.

Four years after being defeated and rejected, Trump has managed to take center stage in American politics again, which explains the cult-like following he has built. The genesis of this personality began on screen three decades ago.