During Tuesday’s episode of The View, Whoopi Goldberg voiced her frustration with President Donald Trump’s approach to leading the nation, likening it to the style of his previous reality show, The Apprentice.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Is The View still on air? Today’s installment is a rerun from October 28, 2025.

The discussion unfolded as ABC’s Jonathan Karl appeared on the show to discuss his latest book, Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America. The conversation turned to speculation about whether Trump might seek a third term in 2028, a prospect that seemed to worry Goldberg.

Karl shared his insights, expressing doubt that Trump would pursue another term. However, he warned, “This talk can get out of control.”

Karl elaborated on the potential scenarios, saying, “Once he declares he’s not running again, he becomes a lame duck president, and attention shifts to figures like Marco Rubio or J.D. Vance who might be eyeing a run.” He added, “I’m sure he’d love to orchestrate a kind of The Apprentice scenario to determine his successor. But at some point, does he truly step aside and relinquish the spotlight? That’s hard to imagine.”

However, Karl confirmed that he has heard Trump tell his “friends” that he is “leaving at the end of this.”

Earlier during their discussion, Karl also noted that Trump seems to be thinking more abotu the legacy he will leave behind as he continues focusing on the White House ballroom renovation and brokering peace abroad. Goldberg complained, noting the government shutdown is “hurting people now.”

“Well, that’s our president. That’s our president y’all. And so everything thats happening in Europe and everything that’s happening outside of here seems to be what he’s all about,” Goldberg said. “And he wants to make the U.S. The Apprentice.”

“I don’t know if I want to play that game,” she commented. “I actually need somebody to take care of these folks.”

When Goldberg asked Karl what Trump’s “endgame” may be, Karl speculated, “He is thinking now, more than he ever did, – I don’t think he thought much about it in the first term – about his place in history and his legacy and he sees it in different terms than what you’re defining.”

“He sees it in terms of like how the White House is transformed and how he’s lauded around the world as a great peacemaker,” he said.

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.