former President Donald Trump, in newly released audio has made a striking revelation, stating that “it doesn’t matter” if a person is the “most horrible human being” because what truly matters is ratings.

According to a report by Mediaite on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, this candid remark, captured in conversations with author Ramin Setoodeh, sheds light on Trump’s deep-seated fixation on media metrics and his perspective on success.

Setoodeh, who has penned a post-presidency biography of Trump titled ‘Apprentice in Wonderland’—a nod to the former president’s old NBC show—has shared multiple audio clips of his interactions with Trump.

Last month, Setoodeh revealed that Trump had told him that ratings are “my whole life.”

The latest audio clip, which aired during Tuesday’s episode of ‘Deadline: White House’ on MSNBC, underscores that sentiment.

In the clip, Trump is heard expressing his belief that show business is solely about ratings.

“So, if I went back to NBC right now to do something, they would do anything I wanted to do, showbiz-wise, I’m talking about. Doing a show, anything I wanted to do right now, 100%,” Trump said.

“Because one thing I know about that business, and I learned more about that business than anybody else could learn in a short period of time. It’s about one thing: ratings.

“If you have ratings, you can be the meanest, most horrible human being in the world. There’s only one thing that matters: ratings.”

Trump’s comments reveal a stark viewpoint where moral character and ethical considerations are secondary to media success.

He elaborates further, stating, “You can be nice, or you can be mean. You can be evil. You can be horrible. You can be crude or elegant.

There’s only one thing that matters and that’s ratings. If you don’t have ratings, it doesn’t matter.”

This perspective is not new to those familiar with Trump’s history in show business.

Setoodeh’s book details an instance during his visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, where the former president was fixated on a 20-year-old Nielsen ratings report for the first season finale of ‘The Apprentice’.

“Trump is looking at a page from the Nielsen ratings published in a 2004 issue of Variety… from the week after the airing of ‘The Apprentice’s’ first-season finale,” Setoodeh wrote.

“It’s framed and bolted to the wall… something that seems to carry as much value to him as the U.S. Constitution, if not more… This sheet of paper comes from an America where ‘The Apprentice’ was, if only for a single week, the No. 1 show… ‘This is my whole life,’ Trump says.”

Setoodeh shared with MSNBC last month how Trump’s obsession with ratings highlights “how little [Trump] actually cares about governing” and emphasized that “he’s only interested in show business.”

The release of these audio clips has sparked significant discussion about Trump’s priorities and his legacy.

Political analysts and media commentators have weighed in, noting how Trump’s approach to leadership and governance often mirrored his show business mentality.

His tenure in the White House frequently showcased his preference for spectacle and media attention, sometimes at the expense of substantive policy discussions.

Critics argue that Trump’s focus on ratings over governance has had lasting impacts on the political landscape.

They point to instances where his administration’s actions appeared designed to generate media coverage rather than address critical issues.

Supporters, however, might see his media-savvy approach as a strength, enabling him to communicate directly with the public and maintain a strong presence in the national conversation.

Trump’s remarks about the primacy of ratings over moral character also raise broader questions about the influence of media culture on public life.

In an era where social media metrics and television ratings can significantly impact public perception and political fortunes, Trump’s candid admission underscores the complex relationship between media success and ethical leadership.

As the conversation about Trump’s legacy continues, Setoodeh’s ‘Apprentice in Wonderland’ offers a unique glimpse into the former president’s mindset.

The biography not only documents his post-presidency life but also delves into the principles that guided his actions both in and out of office.