Trump's 'The Apprentice' reality show begins streaming on Amazon

NEW YORK - "The Apprentice," the long-running reality TV show that boosted Donald Trump’s profile and popularized the catchphrase, "you're fired," is streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video.

The show’s first seven seasons will be available on Amazon’s streaming platform, the company said on Monday. The first season premiered on March 10, and subsequent seasons will become available weekly. 

What year did ‘The Apprentice’ start? 

The backstory:

"The Apprentice" debuted in 2004 on NBC and spawned a spinoff, "Celebrity Apprentice." It featured contestants taking part in various challenges for a $250,000 salary and a job with The Trump Organization.

It ran for a total of 15 seasons, with Trump serving as the show's host for the first 14 seasons, and propelled Trump to national stardom following a string of bankruptcies and bad business deals in the 1990s that had splintered his New York-based real estate empire.

The series showcased Trump’s business acumen and was a major hit – launching Trump's name into a global brand that helped kick off his political career. Trump announced his bid for president in 2015 and was elected as the 45th president the next year.

Who won the first season of ‘The Apprentice?’

What we know:

Bill Rancic won the first season of ‘The Apprentice’ in 2004, being hired by the Trump Organization for a one-year contract to take charge of the construction of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in his hometown of Chicago, according to E! News. He went on to fill in as a judge on future seasons of the show, and married E! News host Giuliana Rancic. 

What has Trump said about Amazon streaming ‘The Apprentice?’

What they're saying:

For this part, the president expressed enthusiasm for the news on Truth Social and in a statement included in Amazon’s statement.

"I look forward to watching this show myself — such great memories, and so much fun, but most importantly, it was a learning experience for all of us!" Trump said in Amazon’s release.

Dig deeper:

Prime Video acquired MGM, which owned the rights to The Apprentice, in March 2022 for $8.5 billion, according to Deadline. 

Mark Burnett, who created the format and was an executive producer with Trump on the show, was named as Trump's pick for special envoy to the United Kingdom. 

Big picture view:

Amazon’s decision to stream "The Apprentice" is the latest indication the company is attempting to strengthen its relationship with Trump, which was testy during his first term. In January, Amazon said it would release a new documentary about first lady Melania Trump, promising an "unprecedented behind-the-scenes look" at her life.

Weeks before the November election, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced that The Washington Post, which he owns, would not endorse a presidential candidate, sparking a wave of resignations and thousands of subscription cancellations.

On Monday, a columnist who has worked at the Post for four decades resigned after she said the newspaper’s management decided not to run her commentary critical of Bezos’ new editorial policy. The policy, announced last month, narrows the topics covered by the paper’s opinion section to personal liberties and the free market.

In December, Amazon said it would donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. The company also streamed the inauguration on its Prime Video service, a separate in-kind donation worth another $1 million, and Bezos was among the top tech billionaires who attended Trump’s inauguration celebrations.