Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary who has been overseeing the administration’s deportation effort. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
“This is not the Hunger Games of migrants.” He immediately puts his hands out Rob Worsoff the creator of reality show “The American,” to which the Trump administration may give its patronage that rather than the truculent dystopian film series immediately brings to mind 'The Apprentice' the show that gave Donald Trump the television popularity on which he built his political business.
The idea is that of a reality show hosted by successful immigrants and as immigrant contestants compete, taking part in physical tests around America, such as whitewater rafting in Colorado or clamming in Maine, but also quizzes on star-studded history and culture, to get the coveted green card. And while a no-holds-barred war on undocumented migrants is underway, with a promise to deport millions of them, at all costs, the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the proposal for the reality show is “in the first stage of a thorough evaluation process” that will then lead to its acceptance or rejection.
“Secretary Kristi Noem has not given her okay or even viewed the project,” spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin pointed out, pointing out that the department receives hundreds of projects for television programs, ”including documentaries that follow the activities of agents on the border. Interviewed by the Wall Street Journal Worsoff, who is originally from Canada and in fact had already presented the idea for the show to the Obama administration, says he is “not tied to any political ideology, being an immigrant myself, I can only do a show that celebrates the immigration process and what it means to be an American.” And in particular, there will be no risk of deportation for those eliminated.
“It's not, 'hey you lost and we're going to kick you out of the country'”, Worsfoff argues, perhaps knowing that the idea of a reality show about migrants sponsored by the Trump administration immediately brings to mind the ‘You are fired!’ with which the tycoon-host fired and kicked eliminated candidates off his show.
