Donald Trump’s companion in his infamous 2005 “Access Hollywood” hot-mic tape has a new gig.
Billy Bush, the entertainment reporter who was caught on the recording laughing along as Trump made lewd comments about women, has joined Fox News as a contributor.
Bush made his debut on the conservative network on Tuesday’s broadcast of “Jesse Watters Primetime,” where host Watters joked that the new role could eventually land him a job in Trump’s Cabinet. Bush played along, floating the idea of running the Department of the Interior, which is currently headed by Doug Burgum, or even becoming the new press secretary to replace the recently departed Karoline Leavitt.
Bush, a nephew of the late President George H.W. Bush and cousin of former President George W. Bush, became engulfed in controversy during the 2016 election when the previously unaired 2005 recording involving Trump was leaked.
In it, Trump, who in 2005 was the host of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” was caught on a hot mic telling Bush, “When you’re a star … you can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.”
At the time the tape surfaced, Bush was co-hosting NBC’s “Today.” He subsequently lost his $3.5 million-a-year job in the fallout, while Trump went on to win the presidency against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
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After the recording became public, Bush apologized, saying he was “embarrassed and ashamed” and that in 2005 he had been “younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along.”
Four years later, Bush described the exchange with Trump as an “ugly moment.” He also claimed he had no memory of hearing Trump’s now-infamous remark at the time. “That famous line, never recalled it. When I heard it, I heard it for the first time because I don’t think it ever landed on me,” he said, adding that the experience made him “a much nicer person.”
In his new role, Bush will reportedly appear across all Fox News platforms.