Trump TV? Donald Trump’s son-in-law reportedly eyes post-election TV network deal for the former Apprentice star
Jared Kushner, the owner of the New York Observer, investor and the son-in-law of Donald Trump has reportedly approached a top media industry dealbreaker about setting up a Trump TV network following the presidential election.
Trump TV? Donald Trump’s son-in-law reportedly eyes post-election TV network deal for the tycoon
According to the Financial Times, Kushner has approached Aryeh Bourkoff, who is the boss of boutique investment bank LionTree, “within the past couple of months,” about the prospect.
The FT has said the claim is backed by three sources, and that the conversation between the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and Bourkoff, has not progressed since.
The network would likely look to benefit from the headlines and overall movement that has built up around the real estate mogul since he launched his bid for the White House. Rival Hillary Clinton has taken the lead in the polls, leading by 11 points nationally – so it’s possible Trump’s campaign managers will be brainstorming ways to keep the momentum around their candidate going in the event of a defeat from the former first lady.
Trump, who took a major blow to his campaign last week after a leaked tape revealed how he had made lewd comments about women and boasted that his celebrity status could let him do anything he wanted to the opposite sex, has denied that he wants to start his own TV channel.
“I have no interest in a media company. False rumour,” he told the Washington Post last month, after Vanity Fair claimed that he and his advisers had explored the prospect.
Trump has several supporters in the right wing media, with Fox’s Sean Hannity being one of his most vocal fans. In addition, former Fox chairman Roger Ailes – who was ousted last month over allegations of sexual harassment – is reportedly advising the former Apprentice star around the presidential debates.
Meanwhile, other mainstream outlets like USA today and BuzzFeed have taken a stance against Trump. The former made a landmark decision in September when it publicly declared its position in an election, saying Trump was “unfit for the presidency", while BuzzFeed gave its journalists the go-ahead to call Trump a “mendacious racist”.