Donald Trump has made it clear he disapproves of Ali Abbasi’s film, The Apprentice. Sebastian Stan stars as Trump in this drama set in the 1970s and 1980s, chronicling Trump’s rise in New York’s real estate scene and his relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong.
The film premiered at Cannes earlier this year and now holds a 79 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have given mixed reviews, but the Trump campaign has been outspoken in its criticism. Spokesperson Steven Cheung threatened legal action in May, calling the film ‘garbage’ and ‘pure fiction that sensationalises debunked lies.’
Though Trump remained silent for a while, he recently expressed his opinions on the film’s theatrical release this week. Writing on Truth Social, he called it a “FAKE and CLASSLESS Movie” and questioned whether the filmmakers had the right to use the name The Apprentice. He hoped it would ‘bomb’ at the box office.
He described the film as a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job,” released strategically before the 2024 Presidential Election to harm his political movement.
Trump also criticised the film’s portrayal of his relationship with his former wife, Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova. He stated, “Ivana was a kind and wonderful person, and we had a great relationship until she died. Gabe Sherman, the writer of this garbage, is a discredited hack who chose to ignore the truth.”
He concluded his rant by calling those involved in the film “HUMAN SCUM” and insisted they aim to damage a political movement larger than any individual.
Director Ali Abbasi addressed the controversy and backlash from the Trump campaign back in May. He said he didn’t think Trump would necessarily dislike the film, but he believed Trump might be surprised by it. Abbasi mentioned he would be happy to meet Trump for a screening and discuss it afterward.
The Apprentice is currently showing in cinemas.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Hollywood Reporter: Donald Trump criticizes ‘The Apprentice’ biopic as “fake and classless,” calling it a “cheap defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job” aimed at damaging his political movement.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice about?
It chronicles Trump’s rise in New York’s real estate scene and his relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn.
Who stars as Donald Trump in The Apprentice?
Sebastian Stan stars as Donald Trump.
What was Trump’s reaction to The Apprentice?
Trump called it a ‘FAKE and CLASSLESS Movie’ and hoped it would ‘bomb’ at the box office.
How have critics responded to The Apprentice?
The film holds a 79 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with mixed reviews.
What did Trump say about the film’s portrayal of Ivana Trump?
He stated they had a great relationship and criticized the writer for ignoring the truth.
