The Apprentice: A Scandalous Take on Donald J. Trump’s Rise to Power

Just weeks before the U.S. presidential election, Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice has landed in theaters, and it’s causing a stir. The film, a fictional retelling of Donald J. Trump’s younger years, takes viewers on a rollercoaster of vulgar excess, scandal, and ambition that shines an unflattering spotlight on a man who would go on to become one of the most polarizing figures in American history.

A Star is Born – In Sleaze

From its opening moments, The Apprentice is unapologetically audacious. Set in 1973, the film drops us into a gritty, decaying New York City, where a young Trump is clawing his way up the social and financial ladder. Played by Sebastian Stan, Trump is depicted as an ambitious, almost caricature-like striver, with eyes gleaming for success, glitz, and power. His outlandish hair, flashy suits, and hunger for prestige give the character a grotesque edge, but what makes him truly compelling is his relationship with the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn.

Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Cohn is mesmerizing. With icy eyes and a sinister grin, he becomes both Trump’s mentor and enabler. Their scenes together sizzle with tension, as the film captures the sleazy partnership that helped shape the man who would eventually become the 45th president of the United States. Cohn, a man with a dark history tied to the McCarthy-era Communist witch hunts, brings a venomous charm to the screen, guiding Trump through a maze of power, privilege, and dirty deals.

A Portrait of New York and the 1980s Trump

Visually, The Apprentice is a trip down memory lane, with a cinematic style that shifts between gritty 1970s film grain and flickering 1980s analog TV footage. This subtle nod to Trump’s eventual rise as a TV star is clever and hints at the broader cultural forces that propelled him to fame.

Abbasi pulls no punches in his depiction of 1970s New York. The streets are depicted as mean and trash-choked, with the city seemingly on the brink of collapse. In one scene, a young Trump knocks on tenant doors, personally collecting rent—a far cry from the gold-plated towers he’d later inhabit. But this gritty backdrop is the perfect setting for Trump’s rise, as he schemes to transform a decaying Midtown hotel, the Commodore, into a symbol of his success.

Roy Cohn: The Puppet Master

While Trump’s ambitions are on full display, it’s Roy Cohn who steals the show. Strong’s performance as the slithery lawyer is equal parts terrifying and captivating. Cohn’s influence over Trump is palpable from the moment they meet in a smoke-filled restaurant, surrounded by gangsters and power brokers. Trump is instantly drawn to Cohn’s ruthlessness, and their bond becomes the core of the film’s narrative.

Cohn teaches Trump the art of manipulation, using legal loopholes and backdoor deals to achieve his goals. The relationship between the two is portrayed as transactional but also strangely intimate. Cohn becomes a father figure to Trump, replacing the tyrannical Fred Trump (played by a barely recognizable Martin Donovan), who looms over Donald’s life like a specter. Fred’s harsh treatment of his children, particularly his eldest son, Freddy, is portrayed in heartbreaking scenes that hint at the emotional scars that drive Trump’s hunger for validation.

A Dark Turn into Scandal

The film’s tone shifts dramatically in its second half. As Trump’s empire grows and his relationship with Cohn deepens, the movie takes viewers into a world of grotesque excess. Wild parties, backroom deals, and sexual exploits are presented with a mix of dark humor and queasy discomfort. The arrival of Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova), the fiery Czech model who becomes Donald’s wife, introduces a new dynamic. Ivana is portrayed as both a grounding force and a victim, caught between her love for Donald and the toxic influence of Roy Cohn.

But it’s the depiction of Ivana and Donald’s troubled marriage that takes the film into even darker territory. The Apprentice doesn’t shy away from the allegations that have followed Trump for decades. The film portrays the infamous 1990s accusation of sexual assault by Ivana, which she later partially recanted in her divorce deposition. It’s a brutal scene that shifts the movie’s tone from satirical to deeply unsettling, leaving viewers to grapple with the complex and often contradictory public image of Trump.

A King is Crowned

As the film nears its end, it’s clear that Trump has risen to the top of his world. By the 1980s, he has built an empire, complete with gold-plated towers and a media persona that overshadows even his mentors. Roy Cohn, who once ruled over Donald, fades into the background, overshadowed by Trump’s ambition. But while the movie invites you to laugh at Trump’s vanity and excess, it ends on a sobering note. The man who would later become president is shown as a product of a broken system, one where power and privilege reign supreme, and the American dream is a nightmare in disguise.

Conclusion

The Apprentice is a daring, explosive portrayal of a man whose rise to power has fascinated and horrified in equal measure. It’s a story of ambition, corruption, and the dark side of the American dream, brought to life by stellar performances and a sharp script. Whether you love or hate Trump, this film will leave you questioning how we got here—and where we’re going next.

With its raw depiction of Trump’s rise and the toxic influence of Roy Cohn, The Apprentice is a must-watch for those looking to understand the man behind the myth, and the forces that shaped one of the most controversial figures in modern history.

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Keywords: The Apprentice film review, Donald Trump origin story, Roy Cohn and Donald Trump, Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, Ali Abbasi film