Donald Trump

Schwarzenegger Says He's Leaving ‘Celebrity Apprentice'

Of President Trump, Schwarzenegger had said he was tempted to "smash his face into the table" over comments about the former governor's ratings

Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Friday he will be leaving "The Celebrity Apprentice" after one season on the NBC show.

"I loved every second of working with NBC and Mark Burnett," the actor said in a statement. "Everyone - from the celebrities to the crew to the marketing department - was a straight 10, and I would absolutely work with all of them again on a show that doesn't have this baggage."

The baggage comment follows a recent interview in which Schwarzenegger said he would decline to return even if asked, because of President Donald Trump, a former host.

"With Trump being involved in the show people have a bad taste and don't want to participate as a spectator or as a sponsor or in any other way support the show," Empireonline.com reported. "It's a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division."

In a tweet Saturday, Trump claimed Schwarzenegger was fired from the show because of his poor ratings, but did not provide where he had learned that information. 

"Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't voluntarily leaving the Apprentice, he was fired by his bad (pathetic) ratings, not by me. Sad end to great show," Trump tweeted. 

Schwarzenegger responded on Twitter, writing: "You should think about hiring a new joke writer and a fact checker."

Separately, Schwarzenegger recently said he doesn't dwell on the affair that cost him his marriage to Maria Shriver and is focused on having a great relationship with his kids.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver separated in 2011 after she discovered he had fathered a child with the family maid in 1997.

The actor and former California governor told Men's Journal he would have done things differently, but beating himself up isn't going to change anything.

Maria and Arnold: Through the Years

In the interview, Schwarzenegger also opened up about his running feud with   Trump, whom Schwarzenegger succeeded as host of "The Apprentice." Schwarzenegger refused to support Trump during the campaign, and Trump has since lashed out at Schwarzenegger over "Apprentice" ratings.

Of Trump, Schwarzenegger says he was tempted to "smash his face into the table," but instead settled on a Twitter response.

NBC had no immediate comment about whether the show would return with a new host.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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