Former President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval of the newly released biopic The Apprentice, calling it a "cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job" aimed at undermining his 2024 presidential campaign. His comments came in a post on social media early Monday morning.
The film, which chronicles Trump’s rise in the real estate industry under the guidance of notorious attorney Roy Cohn, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It also features Maria Bakalova, known for her role in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, as Ivana Trump. The film includes a disclaimer stating that some parts have been “fictionalized for dramatic purposes.”
In his critique, Trump condemned the portrayal of his life, describing the movie as "fake and classless." He suggested it was deliberately timed for release just before the upcoming presidential election to damage his political movement, famously branded “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, The Apprentice has ignited both praise and controversy. Screenwriter Gabriel Sherman shared challenges in securing funding for the project, noting that Hollywood institutions were hesitant to humanize Trump. Allegedly, a significant investor in the film, Dan Snyder—who is also a Trump supporter—threatened to withdraw support after viewing it, believing it would present a favorable depiction of the former president.
Contrary to Snyder's expectations, the film features disturbing scenes, including one in which Trump's character appears to sexually assault Ivana and another where he takes amphetamines and undergoes cosmetic procedures. Ivana Trump had previously made allegations of rape against Trump during a divorce deposition, though she later recanted, and Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Following the film’s release, Trump's legal team sent cease-and-desist letters to the filmmakers, and major distributors refused to associate with the project. Sherman criticized Hollywood for its reluctance to support the film, suggesting it reflected the entertainment industry's discomfort with a possible Trump presidency.
In his social media post, Trump highlighted the film’s portrayal of Ivana, who passed away in July 2022. He characterized her as a “kind and wonderful person” and attacked Sherman as a "lowlife and talentless hack" for misrepresenting their relationship. Trump expressed disappointment that individuals involved in the film would attempt to harm his political movement, which he claimed is larger than any single person.
The film’s director, Ali Abbasi, appeared unfazed by Trump's remarks. He responded on social media, expressing willingness to discuss the film further, while Trump's campaign reiterated that the film is filled with fabricated scenes designed to push a "deranged narrative" about the former president.
Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, echoed this sentiment, likening the film to the purported "witch-hunts" by Democrats. Cheung stated that the movie is "pure malicious defamation" and should not be released at all, suggesting it would be better suited for a "dumpster fire" than for any legitimate distribution.
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