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The Rest Is Politics: US

Becoming Trump: Reality TV Fame, Birtherism and the Road to The White House

The Rest Is Politics: US

Goalhanger

Government, News, Politics

4.4 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Are Trump’s “Apprentice years” proof he should have gone to Hollywood? How did Trump capitalise on the dark mood of angry voters? And was it really a racist conspiracy that launched Trump’s successful presidential bid?   Join Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci as they answer all these questions and more. Listen to the whole series: Becoming Trump Unpack how Donald Trump was made: hidden family history, New York legal battles, ruthless mentors, reality-TV reinvention, and his path to the White House. Sign up to listen here. Instagram: ⁠⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠therestispoliticsus@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Written by: India Dunkley Producer: Fiona Douglas, India Dunkley Video Editor: Kieron Leslie  Social Producer: Charlie Johnson  Senior Producer: Callum Hill Head of Digital: Sam Oakley Exec Producer: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi guys, it's Katty here.

0:08.5

The fourth and final episode of our Becoming Trump series is out now.

0:14.0

This week, we trace Trump's transformation from a tabloid joke to presidential candidate,

0:20.0

starting in the fake boardrooms of The Apprentice

0:22.5

and ending on the campaign trail where he promises to build the wall and deport illegal immigrants.

0:28.3

But in between, there's a lot that happens to him. He becomes a Democrat. He launches a wild

0:33.7

conspiracy questioning Obama's birthplace. He flies to Moscow to try to woo President Putin,

0:39.5

and he gets publicly humiliated at the White House Correspondence Dinner. Anthony and I witness much

0:45.7

of this journey firsthand. Have a listen, and if you want the whole series, do sign up at

0:50.2

the rest is politics, us.com. What do you think is behind the birtherism conspiracy?

0:58.3

What's he trying to do?

0:59.1

Is he trying to cast aspersions on Barack Obama because he wants to run against him?

1:05.2

Is he trying to just undermine the legitimacy of America's first black president?

1:10.1

What do you think is going on with that?

1:12.0

I'm going to say something. We'll have to see if our producers leave it in the special programming,

1:16.6

okay? But it was reported that Melania and Donald Trump changed the toilets in the White House residence.

1:27.7

After the 2016 election.

1:29.7

Yes, and they did that because of the Obama sat on those toilets.

1:33.2

And if you think Donald Trump isn't a racist, I'm here to tell you that I think he is.

1:37.7

And I don't know if that's going to get past the British censor.

1:40.7

So it's my opinion.

1:42.2

I'm going to give my opinion based on what happened in the

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