A highly contentious biopic portraying former President Donald Trump in an unflattering light during his early years as a New York real estate magnate is set to hit U.S. theaters this fall. The film, titled The Apprentice, shares its name with the reality TV show that helped catapult Trump to national fame but offers a starkly different narrative of his life.
Debuting at the 77th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, The Apprentice has already stirred significant controversy, particularly for its portrayal of Trump’s private life. The film includes a scene depicting a younger Trump allegedly assaulting his first wife, Ivana Trump, in 1990—a claim she made during their divorce proceedings. Although Ivana later walked back the specific allegation of rape in 2015, saying she felt "violated" in a broader sense during their marriage, the film’s inclusion of the scene has reignited debates over Trump’s past.
Despite efforts by Trump’s legal team to block the film's release, including sending cease-and-desist letters to the producers, NBC News reported that The Apprentice is scheduled for U.S. release on October 11, just weeks before the 2024 presidential election.
The Trump campaign has been quick to denounce the film, with spokesperson Steven Cheung labeling it as "pure malicious defamation." The campaign has hinted at potential legal action against the filmmakers, claiming the film is filled with "blatantly false assertions" and is a "sensationalized" piece of fiction. Cheung further suggested that the movie deserves no place in the public domain, calling it unworthy of even a bargain bin in a discount store.
The Apprentice features Sebastian Stan in the role of a young Trump, with Jeremy Strong, known for his role in HBO’s Succession, portraying Trump’s mob-connected lawyer and confidant, Roy Cohn. The script, written by Vanity Fair special correspondent Gabriel Sherman, who extensively covered the Trump administration, aims to present a "balanced" view of Trump’s rise in the world of real estate. Iranian-Danish director Adi Abbasi helms the project, bringing a critical lens to Trump’s formative years.
The film’s producers have maintained that The Apprentice offers a fair portrayal of Trump, inviting audiences to judge the film for themselves. Abbasi, undeterred by the legal threats from Trump’s camp, noted that while Trump is known for his litigious nature, his success in court has been inconsistent. Abbasi even suggested that Trump might find the film entertaining, despite its controversial content.
Notably, one of the film’s key financial backers, conservative billionaire Dan Snyder, was reportedly under the impression that the biopic would present Trump in a favorable light. However, after a private screening in February, Snyder was said to be "furious" with the film's portrayal, particularly its depiction of Trump’s alleged mafia connections, use of amphetamines for weight loss, and plastic surgery procedures.
As the release date approaches, The Apprentice is poised to become a significant flashpoint in the already heated 2024 presidential race, offering a contentious look at the man who has dominated American politics for nearly a decade.