Schwarzenegger quits the Celebrity Apprentice show, blames Trump for ratings

Former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has left his role as the host of the Celebrity Apprentice show, blaming US president, Donald Trump's continued involvement in the show as a factor for turning people off.

"I loved every second of working with NBC and Mark Burnett. Everyone - from the celebrities to the crew to the marketing department - was a straight 10, and I would absolutely work with all of them again on a show that doesn't have this baggage," he said.

Schwarzenegger in an interview with Empire magazine on Friday, said that the show suffered from its association with Trump.

"Even if asked I would decline." Schwarzenegger said.

"With Trump being involved in the show people have a bad taste and don't want to participate as a spectator or as a sponsor or in any other way support the show. It's a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division."

"It's not about the show... because everyone I ran into came up to me and said 'I love the show... but I turned it off because as soon as I read Trump's name I'm outta there!,'" he added.

According to report, Trump is still credited as an executive producer on the show he left when he began his presidential campaign.

"NBC did everything they could to promote the show and Mark Burnett (producer) did a fantastic job," Schwarzenegger said

"No one really knew that this was going to happen and I think that everyone was caught off guard."

"When people found out that Trump was still involved as executive producer and was still receiving money from the show, then half the people boycotting it."

Meanwhile Trump fired back at Schwarzenegger claiming that he was fired.

"Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't voluntarily leaving the Apprentice," "he was fired by his bad ratings, not by me. Sad end to great show," Trump tweeted.

"You should think about hiring a new joke writer and a fact checker," Schwarzenegger tweeted back,

Trump hosted the show since it began in 2004. Schwarzenegger took over for season 15 due to Trump's presidential commitments.