TCA 2015: Donald Trump loves Joan Rivers, can’t stand Bill Cosby

Donald Trump has always been known for his strong, sometimes outrageous opinions. And he was not shy Friday when promoting “Celebrity Apprentice” about expressing his feelings for two prominent performers: Joan Rivers and Bill Cosby.

The late Rivers, who was a prior winner of the reality series, returned to the latest edition as a mentor and judge, “and she was so strong and vibrant,” Trump said Friday. “She was 83 or 84, and so inspirational. It’s amazing how incredible she was.”

Rivers, who died in September, will be featured in Monday’s episode, which will be dedicated to her in memoriam.

“She busted her ass to feed people in New York City,” said Mark Burnett, executive producer of the series. He and other contestants noted her relentless energy which powered her past much younger contestants.

“She was a little powerhouse of a woman,” said “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kenya Moore, one of this season’s contestants. “She made us all want to raise more money for our charities.”

Trump did not have kind words for Bill Cosby, who figured in the show’s premiere when Keisha Knight Pulliam, who appeared on “The Cosby Show,” was “fired” by Trump after she refused to reach out to Cosby to ask for a donation in a charity task.

Although she explained that she was uncomfortable about contacting Cosby to ask for help because she had not been in contact with him for years, “she should have called him anyway -- the money goes to charity,” Trump said. “She worked for him, it would have been appropriate.”

The episode drew special attention because of the current accusations against Cosby by several women who claim he sexually assaulted them. The show was taped several months before.

“I’m not a Cosby fan,” said Trump. “I don’t like him for a very specific reason,” which he declined to disclose.

Twitter: @GeBraxton