BREAKING: Former President Trump to sue the filmmakers behind ‘The Apprentice,’ a feature-length film where he is depicted r*ping his late wife Ivana. pic.twitter.com/OUnNNCLd6U
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 21, 2024
The presidential campaign for Donald Trump has vehemently denounced the biopic “The Apprentice” following its debut at the Cannes International Film Festival, threatening legal action against the filmmakers.
“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,” said Steven Cheung, the chief spokesperson for the Trump campaign said in a statement to Variety. “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked.”
Sebastian Stan praises "all the people that had the balls" to make Donald Trump movie #TheApprentice.
"We have to take on things that are risky and perhaps uncomfortable to talk about, but I think it's important that we do." https://t.co/ugDR2UYNaX pic.twitter.com/1iMI5bfmw2
— Variety (@Variety) May 21, 2024
Cheung went on to describe the film as “malicious defamation” and accused Hollywood elites of election interference. “This is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked,” he added.
Cheung further condemned the film, stating, “This so-called ‘film’ is nothing but malicious defamation. It shouldn’t see the light of day and doesn’t even deserve a spot in the bargain bin of a discount movie store that’s about to close.” It belongs in a dumpster fire.”
Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, “The Apprentice” premiered at Cannes to mixed reviews. Some critics praised it as a chilling cautionary tale, while others dismissed it as a shallow caricature of the former president. A particularly controversial scene depicts Trump assaulting and raping his ex-wife, Ivana Trump, which has divided opinions further.
The Guardian described the scene: Near the film’s end, Trump reacts furiously to Ivana’s disparaging comments about his appearance, forcing her to the floor and raping her. “Did I find your G-spot?” he asks in the film. This depiction echoes Ivana’s 1990 divorce deposition, where she described a similar assault following Trump’s scalp-reduction surgery. Although Ivana initially referred to the incident as rape, she later clarified in a 1993 statement that she did not want her words interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.
BREAKING: Hollywood Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ to include scene of Trump raping Ivanahttps://t.co/Gq0s5LN9o1https://t.co/Gq0s5LN9o1
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) May 21, 2024
Trump denied Ivana’s claims during the divorce proceedings, calling them “obviously false.” Ivana Trump passed away in July 2022 and was buried at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Despite its debut at Cannes and its critical stance on Trump, “The Apprentice” has yet to secure a U.S. distributor, with some critics offering harsh reviews.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as almost sentimental in its portrayal, calling it “a cartoon Xeroxed from many other satirical Trump takes and knowing prophetic echoes of his political future.” David Ehrlich of IndieWire criticized the film’s lack of focus, stating, “Clipped from the start and increasingly uncertain of its purpose as it fumbles toward the Trump we know, this origin story certainly isn’t as painful to watch as the future that it portends has been to endure, but it’s every bit as banal and unnecessary.”
The polarized reception of “The Apprentice” highlights the ongoing contentiousness surrounding portrayals of Donald Trump, reflecting deep divisions in public opinion and the political landscape. The Trump campaign’s aggressive response underscores its strategy to counter narratives it views as damaging, particularly as the former president eyes another bid for the White House. The film’s controversial content and mixed critical reception may impact its distribution and influence, but it undeniably stirs debate over the intersection of cinema, politics, and public perception.
Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival with the former president’s campaign threatening a lawsuit. https://t.co/KdunLI7qJe https://t.co/8NScBaxrYi pic.twitter.com/Xs23iy75yR
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 21, 2024
Major Points
- The Trump campaign has condemned the biopic “The Apprentice,” debuted at Cannes, and threatened to sue the filmmakers for defamation.
- Steven Cheung, Trump’s chief spokesperson, described the film as “pure fiction” and “malicious defamation,” accusing Hollywood elites of election interference.
- The film, directed by Ali Abbasi, received mixed reviews, with some praising it as a cautionary tale and others dismissing it as a shallow caricature.
- A controversial scene in the film depicts Trump assaulting and raping his ex-wife Ivana Trump, reflecting her 1990 divorce deposition claims, which she later clarified.
- Despite its debut, “The Apprentice” has not yet secured a U.S. distributor, with critics divided over its portrayal of Trump and its overall quality.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
