Arnold Schwarzenegger Pinpoints Trump's Biggest Flaw: 'Not Being Able to Shift From Trump to President'

In a new interview for Men’s Health, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about another entertainer-turned-politician: Donald Trump.

“I always complain about Trump not being able to shift from Trump to president,” he told the magazine, noting he says it because he himself was unable to “shift from Arnold to governor.”

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“I was still stuck as Arnold,” he explained. “Arnold always gets things done. I forced my way in there, then I do it and do it and do it and do it, until it gets done. And I felt the same thing I can do with politics. But I learned quickly that that’s really not the way it works. You got to be able to bring people together. It takes much more time, much more effort, but that’s just the way it is. If you don’t like that, don’t get into politics.”

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As for the public jabs the president has taken at Schwarzenegger, who became the host of the low-rated and final season of “Celebrity Apprentice” after Trump absconded, the actor had a simple explanation: “I think he really–he’s in love with me. That’s the reality of it. With Trump, he wants to be me.”

Schwarzenegger has made that claim in the past, telling Michael Smerconish the theory in 2017.

Trump tore into Schwarzenegger for the low ratings in January of 2017, when he was both president-elect and a remaining executive producer on the program.

Trump vs Schwarzenegger: 9 Moments in History of Friends Turned Rivals (Photos)

Here's a look back at the long and complicated history between the two celebrities-turned-politicians.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Donald Trump were buddy-buddy at first, seen joking around at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York, according to a 2016 Politico article. At Trump's request, Schwarzenegger even moved his entourage from the Mandarin Hotel to one of Trump's hotels, which irked Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver.
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Schwarzenegger had a guest appearance on an episode of "The Apprentice: Los Angeles" in 2007, when he was governor of California. He invited contestants into his private conference room in Sacramento. Back then, Trump described the Governator as a "great friend."
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Apparently he was such a great friend that a month later, Trump donated $10,000 to Schwarzenegger to help pay off debts from his 2006 re-election campaign. The donation got Schwarzenegger in hot water, as political watchdogs saw it as him using his celebrity status to solve his political problems.
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In September 2015, NBC named Schwarzenegger to take over as host of "Celebrity Apprentice" following Trump's entrance into the the presidential race -- and after the candidate's statements about Mexicans prompted NBC Universal to cut its business ties with real estate mogul.
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During Trump's presidential campaign, Schwarzenegger would not provide the same support, instead endorsing Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Republican primary.
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Even after Trump won the GOP nomination, Schwarzenegger took to social media to he would not vote for Trump...whom he would not refer to by name. "It's not only acceptable to choose your country over your party -- it is your duty," he said.
Trump struck back a few weeks before his inauguration in January 2017, mocking the low ratings Schwarzenegger was getting as host of "Celebrity Apprentice" while referring to himself as a "ratings machine." Trump had made similar taunts at Martha Stewart when she hosted her version of the reality show back in 2005.
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Schwarzenegger responded by wishing Trump luck and saying that he hoped "you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings."
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In February 2017, President Trump mocked Schwarzenegger for his "Celebrity Apprentice" ratings at the ordinarily serious National Prayer Breakfast, calling on the crowd to "pray for Arnold."
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In response, Schwarzenegger suggested in a Facebook video that he and Trump switch jobs: "You take over TV, because you're such an expert in ratings. And I take over your job. And then people can finally sleep comfortably again."

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