Tim Allen Believes He Steered President Donald Trump Away From a Career Producing Movies

Tim Allen believes he’s the reason President Donald Trump opted for Washington D.C. over Hollywood.

The Home Improvement alum, 72, appeared on Bill Maher’s Club Random show, where the duo discussed a dinner Allen once had with the then-Apprentice host. At the time, Trump wanted to get into the movie business, but Allen discouraged him.

“I think it was the second-to-last year of The Apprentice. And he was thinking of moving to Los Angeles and being a movie producer, and he was talking about movies. He said, ‘I really like the film business,’” Allen explained, per The Daily Beast.

However, it didn’t take long before the actor explained how difficult it is to actually make money in show business — and, according to him, it prompted a change of heart for Trump right then and there.

“He, like, completely decided at that moment, I’m not gonna get in this business,” Allen explained.

Before changing his mind, Trump was reportedly kicking around the idea of opening a studio with Allen, who explained the logistics and cost of making a movie that flops and the loss of money that goes along with it.

“He goes, ‘What if the ticket sales are slow?’ You lose. And he goes, ‘But you gotta make up the loss somehow. How do you make up the loss?’ I said, ‘Well, there’ll be some tax benefit, but you lose the money. That’s how come the studios struggle. They looking for winners. You amortize your loss with losers over winners.’ He goes, ‘Oh,’” the Santa Clause star continued.

Allen added that Trump reasoned that if he buys a bad building that won’t sell, at least he’s got a building. However, the idea of just having a bad movie to show for all that work and investment seemingly made Trump turn away from Hollywood.