The Apprentice: A Brutal Biopic of Donald Trump

A review of The Apprentice, a new biopic about Donald Trump that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is a brutal and unflinching portrayal of Trump's early years and his complicated relationship with his mentor, Roy Cohn.
The Apprentice: A Brutal Biopic of Donald Trump

The Apprentice: A Brutal Biopic of Donald Trump

The Apprentice, a new biopic about Donald Trump, is a brutal and unflinching portrayal of the former President’s early years. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, pulls no punches in its depiction of Trump’s rise to power and his complicated relationship with his mentor, Roy Cohn.

Cannes Film Festival

The film’s director, Ali Abbasi, is unafraid to tackle the darker aspects of Trump’s personality and behavior, including a disturbing scene in which Trump sexually assaults his then-wife, Ivana. The incident, which was detailed in a deposition by Ivana and reported in the 1993 biography Lost Tycoon, is presented in the film as a non-consensual and violent act.

“The Apprentice has already sparked a lot of controversy over a sequence in which the 45th President of the United States sexually assaults his then-spouse, Ivana Trump.” 1

The film also explores Trump’s relationship with Cohn, who taught him the three key components of his standard operating procedure: attack, deny, and turn every defeat into a victory. The film presents Cohn as a ruthless and cunning operator who saw potential in the young Trump and helped him to develop his skills.

Donald Trump and Roy Cohn

Despite the controversy surrounding the film, it is clear that The Apprentice is a damning portrait of Trump and his rise to power. The film is a timely reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of holding those in power accountable for their actions.

The Apprentice movie


  1. The Apprentice has already sparked a lot of controversy over a sequence in which the 45th President of the United States sexually assaults his then-spouse, Ivana Trump. ↩︎