• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, January 11, 2018

Consider what Donald Trump believed would happen last November. According to reports, he expected to lose the presidential election, then pursue a course in which he had enjoyed some success: television.

Is this his future strategy?

In Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury,” the issue of a post-election scenario was addressed. After losing the election, it was assumed Trump would start a “Trump Network.” This is what the late Roger Ailes suggested.

All of which still makes sense today. The bravado, tall tales, lies, mistruths, complete reversals of strategy and position -- and even sometimes calm, logical talk -- would be the basis for a Trump media platform.

Win or lose, Trump always seems to plan on what's next. How could an election turn into something bigger? TV news content seems to be virtually the only growing genre.

While there has been much focus on “The Apprentice” and its trademark “You're fired!” ending, Trump doesn’t get all the credit. Maybe not even 30%. Most of the credit would have to go to longtime reality producer Mark Burnett, who successfully steered the Trump on-air persona as a know-it-all business guy, a reality TV show-crafted character.

Power is addicting, not just in politics but in TV too. Who could say Trump won’t pursue a media network, after 2020, should he lose? Or four years after that?

Now that Steve Bannon is gone from Breitbart News -- after getting fired from the Trump Administration -- nothing is forever in Trumpland. As others have seen, Bannon could rise again. And where might that be — TV?

Trump only has eight years as president. But what comes after that, even for a 78-year-old two-termer? It’s got to be TV, which if done right, can go on for years.

The Real Fake News Channel sounds dizzy. And so does the Disruption TV News Network. No matter. By that time, we’ll be even more conditioned, slowly addicted, to this type of TV content drama.

Here’s a clue from President Trump during an open cabinet meeting to the press on Wednesday: “Welcome back to the studio.” Now, where’s the green room?