Trump to Martha: "You deserved to be fired"

Donald Trump and Martha Stewart

LOS ANGELES - Hell hath no fury like a real estate mogul feeling dissed by a doyenne of gracious living.

Donald Trump erupted in fury at Martha Stewart yesterday for her polite suggestion in a weekend interview with Newsweek that her version of Trump's hit show "The Apprentice" failed because it aired too close to his.

Stewart also said that she was asked to help get rid of Trump by firing him on air.

That was too much for "The Donald," whose specialty is doing just that - firing people on air.

In an open letter to Stewart, Trump declared, "It's about time you started taking responsibility for your failed version of 'The Apprentice.' Your performance was terrible ... the show lacked mood, temperament and just about everything else a show needs for success. I knew it would fail as soon as I first saw it."

Ms. Stewart was not amused.

In a statement she declared, "The letter is so mean-spirited and reckless that I almost can't believe my longtime friend Donald Trump wrote it. I am very proud of the work we did."

Stewart had said in her Newsweek interview that it was suggested to her that there was room for only one "Apprentice" program in the US and that she should replace Trump by firing him on air.

It was not immediately clear who wanted Trump fired, but Newsweek said "Apprentice" producer Mark Burnett confirmed that it was suggested. Burnett, who co-owns "The Apprentice" with Trump, quickly added: "Thank God that didn't happen."

Trump told Newsweek, "What moron would think you'd fire a guy with the No. 1 show on TV?"

In season four, "The Apprentice" averaged about 10.7 million viewers a week, down several million from its previous season. Stewart's show averaged 6.6 million viewers through its first four weeks.

- REUTERS/VNU