A few words with 'The Donald'

Lindsey Collom
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 15, 2007 12:00 AM
If you had 15 minutes alone with Donald Trump, what would you ask?

Maybe something like: What do you think about Phoenix?

Will you ever reconcile with Rosie? And what's with the hair?

The Republic recently had the opportunity to interview the business magnate when he made a brief showing in the Valley for Celebrity Fight Night, a star-studded event that raised $4.

4 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute. Trump himself raised $350,000 for the cause with an auction-item package for four people to fly round-trip to New York City, eat lunch with "the Donald," and live large at the Trump International Hotel and Tower for two nights.

In an exclusive interview with The Republic, Trump said his company is "looking at several deals" in the Valley but would not elaborate.

In 2006, opposition from residents about building height stymied the Trump-Bayrock project, a 140-foot hotel-condo planned at 26th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix.

Question: What do you think of the Apprentice-type spin-offs?

Answer: At first, I didn't like it. It became more and more flattering because they all failed.

Q: Do you see yourself as a cultural icon?

A: I don't think of myself other than a businessman who does well. I see myself as somebody who is a businessman first.

Q: Tell me about one of your newest ventures, Trump University.

A: I've always believed in education. I like to help people. I have the ability to make money, and I can teach that to other people.

I love what I do.

Q: What else interests you?

A: Golf, sports.

I love talking about business, the world the way it is, and it's a mess. I have changed a part of it. I've put a lot of people to work.

The world has some very big problems. There's senseless brutality and killings. A lot of it could be avoided with competence, which this administration doesn't have.

Q: Is there anyone you admire?

A: Admire is too strong a word. You're talking about humans.

I respect a lot of people.

Q: On a lighter note, what's in your iPod right now?

A: I don't have a whole lot of time to listen to music.

But I do love that White rapper (Eminem). Neil Young is great, and Elton John.