Tim Allen says he might be the reason Donald Trump chose politics over Hollywood. The 71-year-old comedian met Trump at a dinner during one of the final years of The Apprentice. At that time, Trump was thinking about moving to Los Angeles to become a movie producer.
During their conversation, Trump told Allen he was interested in the film business. Allen then explained how risky and difficult it was to make money in movies. This talk apparently changed Trump’s mind about Hollywood completely. “I met the dude at a dinner with his wife, who was genuinely a wonderful person. I think it was the second-to-last year of The Apprentice,” he revealed.
According to LAD Bible, Trump asked him about movie costs and profits, wanting to understand how the business worked. Allen told Trump that if a movie cost $1 million to make, you would need to spend at least double that amount on promotion. When Trump asked what happens if ticket sales are slow, Allen said you simply lose the money.
Allen’s explanation made Trump back away from Hollywood
There might be some tax benefits, but the money is gone. Studios struggle with this all the time, trying to balance losses from bad movies with profits from successful ones.Trump then compared it to real estate. “He says, ‘If I buy a bad building, and it won’t sell, I still have the f*****g building. If you have a s****y movie…’” Allen recounted. “And he says, ‘No, this is not an easy business’.”
He said if he buys a bad building that won’t sell, he still owns the building. But with a bad movie, you have nothing. Trump concluded that movies were not an easy business to get into. After hearing Allen’s explanation, Trump decided against pursuing a career in Hollywood.
Instead, he went on to become US president twice. His second term has been filled with controversy and divisive decisions. His administration has made headlines with the Cabinet’s unusual TikTok debut that left many people stunned.
Trump’s presidency has included controversial actions like sending thousands of people to harsh prisons, banning many countries from entering the US, and introducing trade tariffs. Public opinion about him remains deeply divided worldwide.
His behavior toward journalists has also drawn criticism, including his treatment of a female reporter that sparked outrage. In early 2025, Trump even ordered the capture of Venezuela’s president, which sparked international concern. Given how Trump’s political career has unfolded, Allen might now wish he had given different advice during that dinner years ago.
Published: Jan 6, 2026 01:15 pm