Yes and No.

Trump made the right decision to hire Randal. I actually liked Rebecca better (blame it on the Y chromosome if you like), but I thought there was little doubt that between the two, Randal (whom I also liked a great deal) was the more qualified.

But then Trump made a terrible decision. He hit Randal with the question of whether he should hire Rebecca, too. Bad, bad move.

What was Randal supposed to say? Ms. MysticCat and I both wondered what we would have said. (We both decided that politeness and agreeing with the boss would have had us saying "yes," which is probably why neither one of us is in high-pressure business). If he said "yes" he would be a nice guy but would also be dishonest and would justifiably feel like his well-deserved win had been tarnished. If he said "no" he risked coming across as as a jerk, which obviously some in the audience (and here on GC) thought he did.

Trump never should have put Randal in that position. He should have either said "I'm hiring one" and let that be it, or he should have said "I'm hiring both of you," instead of schluffing the decision off on Randal and basically making him be the bad guy.

The whole thing just made me feel kind of queezy, and I think it was Trump's fault, not Randal's.

That was the one thing Randal said that really rubbed me the wrong way. He was right, or course, but something about the way it was said bothered me (but not Ms. MysticCat). I think it's that I'd rather hear someone stress his own strengths rather than attack someone else -- it sounded like a line from a political debate. There are ways to say the same thing without sounding (in my mind) quite so, um, politician-like.

No big deal, but it did make me wince.

Trump isn't "hiring" anyone really. He just picks someone and NBC pays them.

Also, most of these people's histories are greatly exaggerated. Do google searches on them and you'll see.

-Rudey

I don't think Randall should be seen as selfish. He stated how he feels and that should be the end of it. He was truly honest. I feel as though all of this bad press is deminishing his win. I agree with MysticCat81 and Eclipse that Randall said the right thing.


In the past, Donald Trump has never asked the winners should he hire the other contestant. He has always just chosen one person and that was the end.

This is what business is about making decisions and going with them.

First time I've watched any part of this show, but Mrs. DA was watching and I caught the last 15 minutes or so.

I was mildly surprized, but not shocked at his comments and his sacking of her in the end.

If you've ever worked for or with powerful executives, one of the first things you realize is that if you mess with them along the way, you're gonna get nailed in the end.

Mutual respect only goes as far as the board room door.

She attacked him, and he won.

He attacked her, too. He won.

Trump was trying to look like a good guy, but if he had strongly disagreed, he would have hired her anyway.

If she's smart, she'll invite him out to lunch and be sure the air is clear between them.

As a guy told me when I was younger and stupider (new word), "Never burn your bridges, because you'll never know who will be operating the next on you come to."

She burned her bridge, at least temporarily, at that last conference table meeting.

To the victor, go the spoils.

Just to be clear, I don't know if I'd say he said the 'right" thing. That was my problem with the whole thing -- I'm not sure there was a "right" thing to say.

There certainly was not a perfect way to handle this. As someone else said, Trump put Randal in a very awkward position at that point. I would say, given the difficult circumstances, Randal did an good job of being honest and tough without coming off as a jerk (I realize some will disagree). He did not say that Rebecca was a horrible person. He didn't even say that Trump shouldn't hire her period. He only said that that night was about the Apprentice, not the Apprenti, so there was only one winner and Trump had made that decision previously.

The Apprentice is like Highlander “There can only be one”. All through this competition Randal had led productive projects while gaining undeniable respect from all his competitors. Randal is an example that effective successful leadership doesn’t equate to being belligerent to others which is rare. Because of this Trump asked “Is Randal ready to deal with the diverse personalities of the corporate world”, meaning could Randal be aggressive enough in a cut throat environment if needed. I think Randal knew had to prove then and there that he could and was very tactful in doing so. In no way, be it words or tone did I think he was being or trying to be condescending towards Rebecca. Rebecca was aggressive in the board room as well.

Trump should not have put Randal on front street like that. The man was being honest, he worked hard and it was his well deserved moment. If Trump was in Randal’s position he would have done the exact same thing. If Randal would have said yes, it possibly would have been another Ruben and Clay situation down the road. Again, Randal didn’t say do not hire Rebecca, just not that night. Trump is probably on the phone with her now asking how soon can she relocate to Jersey.

To answer your question - NO Trump has never asked this of previous candidates - even when they were more evenly matched in regards of skills, experience and qualifications. He always had the offer of two projects and AFTER he chose the winner he would ask the winner what project they wanted to work on. What he did last night was UNFAIR.

If Trump truly saw something in both of them then HE should have just made the decision to do so - how he tried to undercut Randall was a pure punk move.

Did you miss Rebecca's comments about Randall both in the final boardroom and during the taping yesterday? She was not complimentary in any way nor did she acknowledge his strengths - she tried to make herself look better than she was. Why should Randall ignore that and keep her along for the ride? I highly doubt she would have chosen Randal to be co-apprentice had she been hired - her body language spoke volumes last night & anyone saying differently is deceiving themselves. Had she won and not brought Randal in (if Trump even asked the question) then we be called out for calling the race card - when in THIS case its really about qualifications.

And for those that don't see how color becomes an issue with this please try to understand - when you are in certain circles there is ALWAYS someone who assumes the black person (or woman) shouldn't be there. You didn't earn the right or have the grades and are only there because of color. Randall kicked the door down long ago. He is a highly qualified 34 year old man who (as Trump admitted) excelled at every educational achievement he's attempted. He also RUNS successful businesses. He played the game, excelled at the rules and is now being lambasted publicly for not reaching back and sharing his wares with a younger, inexperienced women who just isn't on his level. After watching family members deal with this kind of silliness privately for years to watch someone being hung out like this publicly STINGS DEEPLY so collectively yes this is turning into a racial issue. Its another case of no matter how hard you work - you can be more qualified, more experienced and more (fill in the blank)you will still be called out and questioned for ridiculous arbitrary reasons - like in this case being "unfair" by not sharing.

This was a competition - being asked to share your winnings in this case was stupid and unfortunately is taking away from Randalls rightful win.

Did anyone call Bill out for not helping Kwame? No. And they actually worked well together and could have been a great tag team for Trump. Bill was declared the winner and earned the right to go forward with the spoils. Trump owes Randall a HUGE apology.

I disagree. I think both Randal and Rebecca acknowledged each other's strengths and tried to point out why he or she was the better choice. I would have expected nothing less from either of them. As they say at the beginning of every episode: "It's not personal, it's just business."

Quote:

Trump owes Randall a HUGE apology.

I agree (of course, since this is Trump, it should be a "YUGE" apology), but I think he also owes Rebecca an big apology. He placed Randal in a no-win situation that could do nothing but embarass both Randal and Rebecca, and neither of them deserved that.

It will probably be another Rublen and Clay situation, regardless if he said yes or no. He should've just said yes, to make himself come across better.

What part of this is a competition are you not getting. The rules of this competition are that ONE person is declared The Apprentice. That's like going to a job interview and the employer gives you your job and asks you, "By the way can I hire your competition" In any world that is not the employee’s responsibility to make that decision but the employer. Now if you want to talk about selfish Trump was selfish for attempting to put him out like that.

I stated earlier that Bill and Kwame were very evenly matched and Trump didn't ask that of Bill. As far as him saying yes to make him self look better...please with his education, experience and being the new Apprentice, it doesn't get any better.

Quoting you, Misbehavn, because I have seen other people make similar comments. I am not directing my comments toward you. :)


Obviously the rules are not firm. Every season to this point, Trump has fired ONE person per week. Every week, Trump says, "One of you will be fired." or "Someone will go home." Obviously he hasn't stuck to that this season, so what's to say he couldn't have hired them both? The name of the show does not limit the hiring of one person.

And personally, I don't think Bill and Kwame were as evenly matched. I think this is the first season where both finalists were dead-even.

Really, Trump should have said, "Rebecca, you're outstanding. Randal, you're outstanding. You're both hired."

If my comments are racist, then fine. I'LL BE THAT. You are so ignorant and borderline illiterate it doesn't make any sense.

exactly. and truthfully, even if he did agree to let trump hire rebecca, people would be whinning that he was too soft and hadn't deserved the job in the first place. the guy was doomed either way! while i would have been one of the marshmallows who would have agreed, i am certainly glad that he didn't. randal was great! rebecca was talented and i am sure that her experiences on this show will lead her into some more great career experiences.

I think the best candidate won. I don’t understand how people are trying to rationalize hiring both of them that night. Ok let’s play this out by the facts. Randal and Rebecca were the two best out of the competition, we all can agree on that. Even though as task managers Rebecca was 1-2, Randal was 3-0. I’ll still go along with the dead even opinion going into the final round because I know people want to talk about the ankle. Both were assigned their final project, charity fundraisers. Rebecca had to host a comedy event raising money for the Elizabeth Glaser AIDS Foundation. Despite her comedian pulling out, It was a nice event but how much money did Rebecca raise? $0. Did anyone notice that Donald was disappointed (and stated on the show) that Rebecca did not come out or send someone to greet him when she knew in advance he was coming? Randal had to host a celebrity softball tournament to raise money for Autism Speaks. It did rain forcing the event inside. How much money did Randal raise? $11,000.

It was only because Trump called Yahoo out they donated $50,000. EG AIDS Foundation don’t want to hear about broken ankles or how their host was advised not ask the attendees for money even though that was the purpose of the event. In the fundraising world if you didn’t raise the dollars then having the event didn’t make cents. Randal raised money for Autism Speaks despite his obstacles and that is the difference in “writing about businesses and running them”. That is also the reason why Trump only hired 1 Apprentice. Now if you still think both should have been hire that night then you are speaking from emotion, not rational.