The Trump campaign is planning to file a lawsuit against the filmmakers of the controversial new movie, “The Apprentice,” which depicts the rise to fame of the 45th president, Donald Trump. According to campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, the film contains blatantly false assertions and sensationalizes lies that have long been debunked. Cheung criticized the movie as pure fiction and stated that a lawsuit will be filed to address these allegations.
Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, “The Apprentice” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, claiming to be inspired by true events in Trump’s life during the 1970s and 1980s. The film includes a shocking scene in which Trump violently rapes his late ex-wife Ivana. Ivana Trump, who passed away in July 2022, had previously alleged a sexual assault in her 1989 divorce deposition but retracted the claims over 25 years later, calling the story totally without merit.
Cheung described the movie as malicious defamation that should not be released and criticized it for its false portrayal of Trump. He accused Hollywood elites of election interference by premiering the film less than six months before Trump takes on President Biden at the ballot box. Cheung suggested that the movie’s release was an attempt to interfere with the upcoming election and gain favor for Biden, whom the Hollywood elites support.
Despite the controversy surrounding “The Apprentice,” the US distribution rights for the film have not yet been sold. The movie stars Sebastian Stan as young Donald Trump and Maria Bakalova as Ivana. Jeremy Strong, known for his role in “Succession,” also appears in the film as Roy Cohn, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer. One of the film’s investors, billionaire Dan Snyder, reportedly expressed anger at how Trump was portrayed in the movie, expecting a more flattering portrayal of the former president due to his personal friendship with him.
The Trump campaign’s decision to pursue legal action against the filmmakers of “The Apprentice” highlights their objection to the movie’s portrayal of Trump and the alleged false assertions made within it. The involvement of high-profile actors in the film and the controversy surrounding its content have sparked debates about the ethical implications of creating such a film. The Trump campaign’s accusations of election interference by Hollywood elites have added a political dimension to the situation, raising questions about the potential impact of the movie on the upcoming presidential election. Ultimately, the lawsuit against the filmmakers may serve as a means of defending Trump’s reputation and challenging the validity of the claims made in “The Apprentice.”
