In a series of recent interviews, Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former White House employee and reality TV star, has cast doubt on the political future of her former boss, ex-President Donald Trump. Her comments come amid Trump's ongoing legal challenges, including a $250 million civil fraud trial in New York.
Manigault Newman, who first gained national attention as a contestant on Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" in 2003, stated, "I think it would be very hard for Donald Trump to run for president from jail." This sentiment was echoed in multiple interviews, including one with Page Six, where she was promoting her latest reality TV project, E!'s "House of Villains."
Her relationship with Trump spans over a decade. After her stint on "The Apprentice" and its spinoffs, "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "The Ultimate Merger," Manigault Newman joined Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as Director of African American Outreach. Following his election, she served as his Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison. However, her tenure in the White House was short-lived. In December 2017, she was dismissed by then-Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, an event she later detailed in her 2018 memoir, "Unhinged."
Reflecting on her time in the Trump administration, Manigault Newman expressed regret. In a separate interview, she mentioned, "For me, I just can't believe I fell for a con man, a con man who turned out to be the biggest fraud." She further elaborated on her experience on "The Apprentice," stating that much of what was presented on the show was fabricated, likening it to a "house of cards."
While Manigault Newman's comments about Trump's legal troubles and potential political future have garnered attention, she also shared insights into her latest reality TV venture, "House of Villains." The show features a cast of infamous reality TV personalities, all competing for a $200,000 cash prize. When discussing her participation in the show, Manigault Newman said, "We shot 'The Apprentice' in September of 2003 and here we are almost 20 years to the day and I wanted to do something fun to celebrate my 20 years in this crazy business."
As for Trump's ongoing legal challenges, recent reports indicate that his lawyers have been accused of making "distorted and exaggerated" claims about their access to classified information. These claims are speculated to be part of a strategy to delay a scheduled May 2024 trial addressing Trump's handling of sensitive government records after his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.
Manigault Newman's comments and the surrounding media attention underscore the complex and often contentious relationship between Trump and some of his former associates. As the legal proceedings continue and the 2024 election approaches, the political landscape remains uncertain, with figures like Manigault Newman adding their voices to the ongoing discourse.
