It’s been three years since the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape that derailed Billy Bush’s career. But the former NBC personality, who was in his first year as a Today co-host when he was promptly fired in 2016, is returning to television next week. Bush is attempting to launch a career comeback with Extra.
The 47-year-old TV host stopped by BUILD Series to discuss his new show, which will cover entertainment, sports and politics. He was asked if he would ever have President Trump — who was heard bragging to Bush about groping women on the leaked tape — on as a guest.
“I wouldn’t lead with him, you know what I mean. I’m happy to put some distance in there,” Bush replied. “But at some point I would. I’m interested in people who are in positions of power and how they handle it. I’d interview him because I’m a concerned American, you know?”
Bush then brought up what he sarcastically called the “beloved tape.”
22 PHOTOSBilly Bush through the yearsSee GalleryBilly Bush through the years
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 22:NBC News’ Billy Bush in conversation with Jeff Rossen for SiriusXM’s TODAY Show Radio at SiriusXM Studios on August 22, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 10: Billy Bush arrives for the women’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on day 13 of the 2016 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 08:Billy Bush & Olympic Legend Carl Lewis for Speed-Walking Race for Ages at Copacabana beach on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.(Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Access Hollywood )
CULVER CITY, CA – MAY 21:TV personality/host Billy Bush attends the Kaleidoscope Ballat 3LABS on May 21, 2016 in Culver City, California.(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 10:Billy Bush visits ‘The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show’ at Z100 Studio on February 10, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11:Radio host Billy Bush (L) and actress Olivia Jordan attend The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 Presented By Macy’s at The Arc, Skylight at Moynihan Station on February 11, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for AHA)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 10:Billy Bush visits ‘The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show’ at Z100 Studio on February 10, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 10:Billy Bush (L) and Bethany Watson at ‘The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show’ at Z100 Studio on February 10, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 09:Billy Bush arrives at the Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles Annual Wishing Well Winter Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Joe Scarnici/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 09: (L-R)TV personalities Billy Bush and Kit Hoover attend the Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles Annual Wishing Well Winter Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Barry King/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 09:TV personality Billy Bush speaks onstage during Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles Honoring Oscar De La Hoya, Michael Rosenfeld And Tom Mone at its Annual Wishing Well Winter Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 9, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles)
YOUNTVILLE, CA – NOVEMBER 13:Billy Bush attends the Celebrity Tribute during the Napa Valley Film Festival 2015 at the Lincoln Theatre on November 13, 2015 in Yountville, California.(Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 29:Master of Ceremonies Billy Bush attends the imagine1day Visionary Leadership Dinner at The London West Hollywood on October 29, 2015 in West Hollywood, California.(Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for imagine1day)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 11:TV host, Billy Bush attends 16th Annual Ubuntu Education Fund 1 Million to One: Changing The Odds Gala at Gotham Hall on June 11, 2015 in New York City.(Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 09:Radio host Billy Bush attends the Farrah Fawcett Foundation 1st annual Tex-Mex Fiesta at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10:Television personalities Bethenny Frankel (L) and Billy Bush tape a segment at ‘Access Hollywood’ at the NBC Rockefeller Center Studios on June 10, 2015 in New York City.(Photo by Ray Tamarra/GC Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 23:TV personality Billy Bush attends The CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photo by C Flanigan/FilmMagic)
BURBANK, CA – MARCH 08:TV Host Billy Bush attends the advance screening of ‘Cinderella’ benefiting Los Angeles JDRF at Walt Disney Studios on March 8, 2015 in Burbank, California.(Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17:(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE/SPECIAL RATES APPLY) TV host Billy Bush visits ‘The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show’ at Z100 Studio on November 17, 2014 in New York City.(Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE — Pictured (l-r): Andy Cohen, Chloe Grace Moretz and Billy Bush — (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23:EXCLUSIVE ACCESS/SPECIAL RATES APPLY – Billy Bush visits ‘The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show’at Z100 Studio on September 23, 2014 in New York City.(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE — Pictured: Billy Bush — (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)Up Next
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“Back in the day, when that beloved tape was made [it] was 2005 and [Trump] was the number one star on NBC making a hundred million dollars in profit for the network and I’m the entertainment guy. So they’re like ‘Bush, you’re with him three days a week if you can.’ As much as possible because he doesn’t travel with a publicist and he says things that other celebrities are too guarded to say,” Bush continued. “So [Trump’s], like, the highest rated guy and he’s a jackpot with everything he says because he’s a provocateur. So I was with him all the time.”
Bush said there was hardly a time Trump wasn’t “on.”
“He talks at you. Here’s one thing you never hear from him — ‘Hey, how’s the kids?’ It’s a constant, you know, it’s like… you’re an astronaut, you’re in the capsule and asteroids are coming at you and you’re trying to maneuver this thing to get around the asteroids,” he joked. “That’s how I would equate an interview, you know, back then with him.”
The upcoming presidential election is a topic that Bush, whose uncle is former president George H. W. Bush, will follow closely on the program.
“I’m gonna be following it, I’m interested in all of the candidates,” he exclaimed. “I’d like to have them all on the program, and I’d like Cardi B to be my political correspondent. I’m not kidding about that, I’m putting it out there.”
Talking directly to the rapper Bush said, “Cardi please — we’ll have so much fun, you just interview everybody.”
Extra is a rebranding of the Warner Brothers’s celebrity newsmagazine. The show is moving over to Fox-owned stations in seven major U.S. markets, including New York and Los Angeles.
8 PHOTOSBilly Bush and wife Sydney DavisSee GalleryBilly Bush and wife Sydney Davis
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 04:*** EXCLUSIVE *** Television personality Billy Bush and his wife Sydney pose at the 2006 Diamond Lounge By Nathalie Dubois in the Penthouse at Peterson Automotive Museum March 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA -OCTOBER 13:Billy Bush and Sydney Bush attend ‘Breaking The Ice’ A Fundraiser to benefit The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on October 13, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – MAY 01:3rd Annual Runway For Life Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and DVD Release of National Treasure in Beverly Hills, United States on May 01, 2005 – Billy Bush and Sydney.(Photo by Mike FANOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA -OCTOBER 13:Billy Bush and Sydney Bush attend ‘Breaking The Ice’ A Fundraiser to benefit The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on October 13, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images)
Billy Bush and wife Sydney at the Bunny Hop to benefit the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Photo by Robin Platzer/FilmMagic)
Billy Bush and wife Sydney at the Bunny Hop to benefit the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Photo by Robin Platzer/FilmMagic)
LA QUINTA, CA – MARCH 10: Actor Billy Bush andSydney Davis attend the 11th Annual Desert Smash Hosted By Will Ferrell Benefiting Cancer For College at La Quinta Resort and Club on March 10, 2015 in La Quinta, California.(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Desert Smash)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 10: Billy Bush and his wife Sydney Davis arrive for the women’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on day 13 of the 2016 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC Images)Up Next
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