Four individuals—a former 'Apprentice' contestant, a National Security Advisor, an FTC Commissioner, and a Trump Organization executive—recount their tumultuous experiences working with Donald Trump, detailing his volatile leadership style, lack of empathy, and the personal and professional fallout of their 'showdowns' with him.
The article compiles the experiences of four individuals who had significant encounters with Donald Trump, each ending in a dramatic separation. Gene Folkes, a contestant on 'The Apprentice' season 10, initially admired Trump but quickly grew disillusioned by his inappropriate comments and lack of empathy. He was fired by Trump in episode 5 after a task where he couldn't read the script, leading Trump to frame him as 'illiterate.' Folkes pushed back, prompting his dismissal, and later suffered depression due to his on-screen portrayal, describing Trump as 'all personality' and a leader who cannot be challenged. John Bolton, Trump's former National Security Advisor, recounts his resignation in 2019, which Trump publicly announced as a firing. Bolton had a resignation letter prepared, opting to leave after an accumulation of disagreements, and emphasizes Trump's preference for being the one to 'break up' rather than be broken up with. He describes Trump as undisciplined, driven by ego, and prone to changing his mind on critical national security decisions, such as the drone retaliation against Iran. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a Democrat appointed by Trump to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), details her firing in March 2025 (in a hypothetical future scenario). She was terminated via email while volunteering at her daughter's school play, and subsequently fought a legal battle against her dismissal, which was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court. Slaughter also experienced 'pizza-bombing' (online trolling) after her firing and expresses anger not for herself, but for the institutions of government and public servants, believing Trump is self-absorbed and unconcerned with the American people. Barbara Res, who worked for Trump for nearly 18 years, leading construction on Trump Tower and other projects, describes a complex relationship. Initially impressed by her directness, Trump offered her a leadership role. While she found him capable of humor, she notes his tendency to yell at those who disagreed and his need to blame others. She learned to 'work around' his demands for questionable actions. Res left the Trump Organization twice, once on friendly terms, but later became a target of his attacks after writing a critical op-ed. She reveals instances where Trump ordered her to illegally fire a pregnant employee and repeatedly rehired an incompetent manager, suggesting he lacked the courage to fire people himself in the past, a trait she believes has shifted in his political career where he now uses firings as a means of blame.
