The US property mogul, TV presenter and coiffure icon Donald Trump could be teeing himself up to tell Barack Obama: 'You're fired!'
In a round of TV interviews yesterday, the 64-year-old tycoon revealed that he is considering running for the White House in 2012.
For the first time in my life, I'm actually thinking about it [running for president], he told Fox News .
I'm a Republican so if I did anything, I'd do it, I guess, as a Republican, Trump said. I've been asked for years to do it, and I had no interest. This is the first time I am ⦠at least, I'm considering it. That doesn't say I'm going to do it ⦠but I am seriously considering it.
The host of the US version of The Apprentice told MSNBC that although he still had doubts, he could not shirk his duty when it came to aiding America.
I'd love not [to run], he said. But he added: Somebody has to do something. We are losing this country.
Trump also refused to rule out joining the Tea Party movement, the Republican offshoot that some experts believe could emerge as a third party.
I am a Republican, but have great respect for what the Tea Party has done because they have brought to light what's going on, he said. I mean, we have trillion-dollar deficits ⦠The country is going bankrupt, let's face it.
He was rather vague, though, when asked when he might arrive at a decision on whether to run.
Well, I'll make it over a period of time, he told MSNBC.
The Republican party will choose a candidate from a field of about a dozen potential runners to challenge Obama in 2012 .
Among them are the Minnesota governor, Tim Pawlenty, the former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin.
Trump, who has been married three times, is a larger-than-life character in the US, where his company operates a string of resorts and casinos.
As well as appearing on The Apprentice, Trump hosts The Fabulous World of Golf on the Golf Channel.
