Trump Announces His Choices for Next President and Vice President to Top Agent Ari Emanuel

Ari Emanuel unveils in his latest book, “Roll the Calls,” his decision to sever ties with Donald Trump as a client. However, during a recent interview with Rachel Maddow, Emanuel mentioned he had spoken to the former president just a few weeks prior, even sharing insights on Trump’s preferred candidates for the next presidential race.

The venue was buzzing at the 92nd Street Y, where over 650 attendees gathered as MS Now anchor Maddow sat down with the prominent WME Group and TKO executive.

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An audience member commented, “Maddow didn’t hold back,” as the discussion spanned topics from politics and talent management to media, the Emanuel family, and even gut health.

During the conversation, Emanuel disclosed his recent chat with Trump about a potential U.S. federal tax credit for film and TV production.

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“I spoke to him three weeks ago,” Emanuel shared at the 92nd Street Y book event, revealing to Maddow and the attendees that Trump sees JD [Vance] and Marco Rubio as strong contenders for the next election, envisioning Vance for president and Rubio as Vice President.

In “Roll the Calls,” Emanuel recounts how he ended his professional relationship with Trump following his election as president, stating, “I’ve never dropped a client with such ease… And I tell him I didn’t vote for him.”

The book also explores how Emanuel initially signed Trump, who was then starring in “The Apprentice.” Trump unexpectedly called Emanuel while he was golfing in Palm Springs to complain about his NBC contract.

“This is Donald Trump… Did you handle that deal for Conan O’Brien?” Trump inquired after calling from an unknown number.

Emanuel, known for his assertive approach, had previously secured a $45 million settlement for O’Brien when the comedian was dismissed from “The Tonight Show” by Jeff Zucker—a move Emanuel describes as “a classic example of corporate malpractice.”

“I’m facing my own issues with NBC,” Trump lamented to Emanuel. “They show me no respect, Ari!”

“He says he wants me to represent him. Okay, I say,” Emanuel recalls about the beginning of their business relationship.

During the Maddow interview, Emanuel also defended hosting TKO’s major “UFC Freedom 250” event at the White House lawn over the summer and discussed his friendship with Tesla mogul Elon Musk, admitting to Maddow, “I’ve changed him a bit.”

In his book, Emanuel recounts a near altercation between Musk and another of Emanuel’s clients, Larry David, just before dinner at Emanuel’s wedding.

Yet, Emanuel supported Musk’s initiatives with Neuralink and SpaceX in his discussion, and he also stood up for David and Larry Ellison after Maddow criticized CBS News and “60 Minutes” under their leadership and Bari Weiss as being an “embarrassment.”

He also noted that while Stephen Colbert‘s show was canceled at CBS, controversial programs like “South Park” and “The Daily Show” continued under Paramount Skydance.

The conversation was described by one attendee as “a fair fight between two evenly matched opponents.”

Despite the heated debates, Emanuel and Maddow shared a friendly hug as the event concluded.

The high-profile agent is next scheduled to appear in Chicago for an event tonight with liberal CNN commentator David Axelrod at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Meanwhile, the Armory Show — an annual art event owned by Emanuel’s Frieze art fair — is set to commence this weekend at NYC’s Javits Center.