Transcript - Interview: Donald Trump on Imus in the Morning - September 1, 2005 | Factba.se

Don Imus

00:00:00 - 00:00:14 (14 sec)

Donald Trump, here in Imus in the morning programs, it's 10 minutes until the hour.

Don Imus

00:00:14 - 00:00:32 (18 sec)

It is 32 minutes at the irony. I'm assuming the program, on the radio all over the country and on MSNBC all over the world. Bob Schieffer from CBS News is coming up then Phil Simms, Brian Wilson is here and... I was in my office yesterday, I don't know what the hell I was doing.

Don Imus

00:00:32 - 00:00:39 (7 sec)

I was waiting for Brent to bring my computer down, so I couldn't play chess. I read People magazine. You ever read People magazine, Charles?

Charles

00:00:39 - 00:00:42 (3 sec)

Yes, I've seen it. Sure.

Don Imus

00:00:42 - 00:00:55 (13 sec)

It's a world that I just don't -- I don't know what these people are doing. They all seem like they're fine to me. I mean, like Jennifer Aniston. She seems like, she's cute and sings.

Don Imus

00:00:55 - 00:01:00 (5 sec)

Is there a movie any good, they got her under? I saw her on a movie with that kid Ben Stiller.

Charles

00:01:00 - 00:01:01 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:01:01 - 00:01:17 (16 sec)

That was -- I don't know -- maybe Wyatt watched it or something. It's pretty tough, too, but she was fun and his kind of funny. Why are they on the planet? What are they doing? What's their plan?

Charles

00:01:17 - 00:01:19 (2 sec)

They're either entertaining the masses.

Unidentified

00:01:19 - 00:01:22 (3 sec)

It's funny, they're asking themselves the same question about you.

Don Imus

00:01:22 - 00:01:24 (2 sec)

Well, yes, but I'm doing something.

Unidentified

00:01:24 - 00:01:26 (2 sec)

What the hell you are doing their planet.

Don Imus

00:01:26 - 00:01:32 (6 sec)

Anyway, please welcome to the Imus Morning program our old friend Donald Trump. Good morning, Donald.

Donald Trump

00:01:32 - 00:01:35 (3 sec)

Good morning Don. People magazine is really very good, you know.

Don Imus

00:01:35 - 00:01:35 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:01:35 - 00:01:43 (8 sec)

A lot of beautiful women, a lot of it -- a little different than your political world, I will say that, but it's really pretty good. You don't like people magazine?

Don Imus

00:01:43 - 00:01:50 (7 sec)

No, I didn't say that. I said -- I've been in it a few times. No I like it, I just don't ordinarily read it.

Donald Trump

00:01:50 - 00:01:53 (3 sec)

You don't relate to it. I don't get that.

Don Imus

00:01:53 - 00:01:55 (2 sec)

No, well, you know, I guess. I get mail...

Donald Trump

00:01:55 - 00:01:57 (2 sec)

Knowing you, I'm shocked.

Don Imus

00:01:57 - 00:02:14 (17 sec)

I got a letter the other day from a lady. Of all of the people we have on talking about everything in the world, it's not just the only one I've gotten, by the way. You're her favorite guest. The reason she likes you is because, she likes the fact that you're willing to say anything.

Donald Trump

00:02:14 - 00:02:22 (8 sec)

Well, I just speak my mind, I mean I believe in it. What difference does it make? In a world that's falling apart you speak your mind who cares, right?

Don Imus

00:02:22 - 00:02:32 (10 sec)

Well, I don't know. There's so many people who -- I was talking to my kid about this, he is seven. So many people who you can't get a straight answer from. Like the people on your program.

Don Imus

00:02:32 - 00:02:35 (3 sec)

Some of the ones who get fired, you can't get a straight answer from them.

Donald Trump

00:02:35 - 00:02:41 (6 sec)

I saw your son on television, on your show the other day and I think he's adorable.

Don Imus

00:02:41 - 00:02:42 (1 sec)

He is, thank you. He is.

Donald Trump

00:02:42 - 00:02:47 (5 sec)

He's also smart which is probably more important, right? If you'd have to say long term it's more important.

Don Imus

00:02:47 - 00:02:49 (2 sec)

Far more for important.

Donald Trump

00:02:49 - 00:02:50 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:02:50 - 00:02:52 (2 sec)

Thank you and how's the real estate market in New York?

Donald Trump

00:02:52 - 00:03:05 (13 sec)

It's been good. I keep reading about the bubble and I've been reading about it for about four years now. So far it's been great. I'm building a building on Park Avenue in 59th, the old Delmonico Hotel and it's selling like hotcakes.

Donald Trump

00:03:05 - 00:03:14 (9 sec)

It's almost sold out. The stuff has just been going very well. I guess at some point there will be some kind of a correction, but I don't see it.

Don Imus

00:03:14 - 00:03:17 (3 sec)

A correction would mean what?

Donald Trump

00:03:17 - 00:03:39 (22 sec)

Well, when prices would start going down fairly drastically and I think as long as interest rates stay where they are and don't go up to much higher than that -- they're very low anyway. Even if they went up like a point or a point and a half which somebody would say a lot, it's not that much. As long as we don't have like we had in the '90s in the early '90s where they really, really went up. You're going to have a good real estate market.

Donald Trump

00:03:39 - 00:03:47 (8 sec)

People like real estate, they can touch it, they can live in it, and they can do things with it. It's not just the certificate which doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people.

Don Imus

00:03:47 - 00:03:54 (7 sec)

New York real estate for like a person bought an apartment or whatever, it's still a great investment or good investment?

Donald Trump

00:03:54 - 00:04:05 (11 sec)

Well, I think it's I think it's a great investment. There's some competition out there now and you can go and make a deal. I really think -- you know Manhattan is only so big. There's not going to make any more of it.

Donald Trump

00:04:05 - 00:04:08 (3 sec)

Now, if we were in China, they'd fill in the East River. You understand that.

Don Imus

00:04:08 - 00:04:09 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

I'd say, "Did you do an environmental impact study?"" And they look at me like I'm crazy. What are you getting with the ocean? It's true. I went to Hong Kong and they were filling in like thousands of acres. I said

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

You get the electric chair. I said, "How do you fill in like 400 acres in the ocean?"" They look at me like

Don Imus

00:04:53 - 00:04:55 (2 sec)

Did you see the processed space yesterday?

Donald Trump

00:04:55 - 00:04:55 (0 sec)

Don Imus

00:04:55 - 00:04:57 (2 sec)

What did you think?

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

Well, look. I just spoke to a friend of mine who was over in a sort of a business capacity, but over in Iraq and I asked him, he's a smart guy, very street wise guy. I said, "Will it ever work?"" This is somebody that I respect

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

It is the most dangerous place on earth." This guy left

Donald Trump

00:05:53 - 00:06:01 (8 sec)

The amazing thing is they don't want us over there. Very few people want us over there. You say to yourself, "What are we doing? What are we doing?"""

Don Imus

00:00:00 - 00:06:01 (0 sec)

My plan is to give it back to Hussein, just to say, "Look

Donald Trump

00:06:09 - 00:06:10 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:06:10 - 00:06:11 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:11 - 00:06:15 (4 sec)

He might not want it back, though Don, that's the only problem.

Don Imus

00:06:15 - 00:06:35 (20 sec)

[Inaudible] I'm on trial. I love the guy. The got gigantic balls, because he's earned court, he's lecturing judge's, bitching about the elevator not working. I realize he's a horrible person, but we deal with horrible people all the time.

Donald Trump

00:06:35 - 00:06:41 (6 sec)

Well, you are going to get another horrible person in there and probably more horrible.

Don Imus

00:06:41 - 00:06:43 (2 sec)

Well, is Hussein worse than he is?

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:06:43 (0 sec)

Oh, I think so, because that's what's going to pull it together, I guess. Certainly we're not pulling it together. You can't walk the streets, you can't do it. This guy is really a smart cookie and has such common sense and he said, "What are we doing?"" He was there

Donald Trump

00:06:57 - 00:07:11 (14 sec)

I hear all different reports and the report I'm really getting from most people though is that it's just going to all collapse and it doesn't make any difference how long we are. Remember in Vietnam when we used to say -- they used to be a certain group that would say, "Declare victory and leave."""

Don Imus

00:07:11 - 00:07:12 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:07:12 - 00:07:15 (3 sec)

Right? Well, that sounds like one here, 'declare victory and leave.'

Don Imus

00:07:15 - 00:07:23 (8 sec)

Twenty one until the Our Time with Donald Trump. The Apprentice has been renewed for a sixth season. Congratulations, by the way.

Donald Trump

00:07:23 - 00:07:35 (12 sec)

Thank you, thank you. It is going to be taped in Los Angeles? Well, we're going to do a little change up this time. It is a big, big fan base also in Los Angeles. We get very, very strong ratings in Los Angeles for some reason.

Donald Trump

00:07:35 - 00:07:46 (11 sec)

People really wanted it to be there and they really wanted to be in New York, too, but we thought we'd change it up. Who would have thought? I did this as a one-time hit and then it went to number one. Had you remember

Don Imus

00:07:46 - 00:07:47 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:07:47 - 00:08:09 (22 sec)

Just two years ago and it became so successful. Now, they just option number six. I would have never thought this was going to happen, but it has. We thought that New York has done the first five, the number five is actually just finishing shooting, and it goes on right after the Olympics on NBC, and then for next season the new number six will go.

Donald Trump

00:08:09 - 00:08:21 (12 sec)

We thought we do it. It takes about five weeks to shoot the series. Essentially, I'd live in Los Angeles for five weeks and I have a lot of property in Los Angeles, so I'll play around with that property, instead of New York property for a little while.

Don Imus

00:08:21 - 00:08:24 (3 sec)

Then you have a vodka coming out?

Donald Trump

00:08:24 - 00:08:25 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:08:25 - 00:08:26 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:08:26 - 00:08:28 (2 sec)

I have a vodka coming out.

Don Imus

00:08:28 - 00:08:31 (3 sec)

Unfortunately Donald, as you know, I have to stop drinking...

Donald Trump

00:08:31 - 00:08:32 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:08:32 - 00:08:37 (5 sec)

...and that a shame, because this could drive me back to and I used to like vodka.

Donald Trump

00:08:37 - 00:08:44 (7 sec)

I'm very mixed, because I'm a non-drinker. I'm lucky in that respect. I'm a non-drinker, nonsmoker. It's probably two of the only good habits I have.

Don Imus

00:08:44 - 00:08:46 (2 sec)

You don't even drink coffee, do you?

Donald Trump

00:08:46 - 00:08:54 (8 sec)

I don't drink coffee. I've never had a cup of coffee, actually. I see friends and they can't live without coffee. They'll be at Starbucks.

Donald Trump

00:08:54 - 00:09:14 (20 sec)

I have a Starbucks at Trump Tower. You get there at 7 o'clock in the morning, there's a line that's 200 people long waiting to get up the escalators. It's incredible and I've just never been into that. I have never really had a cup of coffee either, but I've been mixed on the whole vodka thing, because of lots of different reasons.

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

I have a lot of friends that are that are alcoholics. I have a brother -- I had a brother who was an alcoholic and then I said to myself, "If it's not me

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:00 (0 sec)

I feel like the cigarette makers, they make cigarettes and then they take ads saying, "Don't smoke."" Right? It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen

Don Imus

00:09:53 - 00:10:09 (16 sec)

Well, I don't know. Drinking in moderation is actually, in some cases is medically recommended. Particularly wine and so on. Even though, I'm a real drunk and a real alcoholic.

Don Imus

00:10:09 - 00:10:14 (5 sec)

I'm not against people drinking. I don't think that's a big deal.

Donald Trump

00:10:14 - 00:10:22 (8 sec)

It's just, I don't know. There just seems to be a big thing and the people that talk about how it's so good medically, sadly, Don, usually they're alcoholic.

Don Imus

00:10:22 - 00:10:24 (2 sec)

Oh, no, no, no.

Donald Trump

00:10:24 - 00:10:49 (25 sec)

I've had five or six friends of mine and now you're included. [Inaudible] Every one of them -- three of them are major alcoholics. [Inaudible] the people, the doctors I saw them recommend like a glass of wine, not three bottles. I've got a bad news. I don't know if it's bad or not, but it is good news for Green bury. Looks like Eliot Spitzer is not going to bring criminal charges against [Inaudible]

Donald Trump

00:10:49 - 00:10:49 (0 sec)

Don Imus

00:10:49 - 00:10:52 (3 sec)

He doesn't need to go to jail like [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:10:52 - 00:10:54 (2 sec)

It's a little late in the game, right?

Don Imus

00:10:54 - 00:11:01 (7 sec)

You would think. Well, what they give him? What kind of sentence can they give him? Anyway, what's coming up tonight?

Donald Trump

00:11:01 - 00:11:21 (20 sec)

Well, we have a good version tonight and actually, we bring it down to two people, because tonight is a interesting thing. Then on December 15th, we have the live finale at Lincoln Center and it's also sold out. I can't get anybody tickets it's just totally sold out. It will be great, but it'll be a-two -- hour-live-finale on December 15th.

Donald Trump

00:11:21 - 00:11:27 (6 sec)

That starts at nine o' clock and it'll be -- it's always sort of interesting doing live television, because you never know what's going to happen.

Don Imus

00:11:27 - 00:11:32 (5 sec)

Well, I thought you're handling it pretty well. I remember the first year you did it.

Donald Trump

00:11:32 - 00:11:33 (1 sec)

Don Imus

00:11:33 - 00:11:42 (9 sec)

I don't know whether I believed you or not, you said you were nervous maybe you weren't. I mean it would be not so funny but you'd be nervous. By the way, it was good. It was great, it was

Donald Trump

00:11:42 - 00:12:01 (19 sec)

Well that that was an amazing evening, because we had 41.5 million people watching the show which was just about the highest show of the year and of any show. It was an amazing kind of an evening. Yes, I was a little nervous. I guess you should be a little nervous.

Don Imus

00:12:01 - 00:12:02 (1 sec)

Yes, you should.

Donald Trump

00:12:02 - 00:12:05 (3 sec)

But I think the performance was good. They gave me many stars.

Don Imus

00:12:05 - 00:12:06 (1 sec)

Two are get it tonight.

Donald Trump

00:12:06 - 00:12:18 (12 sec)

Two get it tonight and we bring it down to the two finalists and they're really good. Then we have the big finale on December 15th, it continues to do great, that's why they renewed us, so I'm having fun with it.

Don Imus

00:12:18 - 00:12:20 (2 sec)

Thank you very much...

Donald Trump

00:12:20 - 00:12:20 (0 sec)

Thank you, Don.

Don Imus

00:12:20 - 00:12:23 (3 sec)

...for appearing in the program, I appreciate it.

Donald Trump

00:12:23 - 00:12:24 (1 sec)

Well, I love it. I actually like it.

Don Imus

00:12:24 - 00:12:33 (9 sec)

Donald Trump here on the Don Imus morning program. The Apprentice tonight at 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time on NBC.