Roy Cohn: The Devilish Mentor Who Shaped Donald Trump – A Look at the Real-Life Figure
The Apprentice: Unmasking Roy Cohn, Donald Trump's Ruthless Mentor
The Apprentice (directed by Ali Abbasi, 2024) depicts a young Donald Trump in 1970s-80s New York; and showcases the chilling relationship with his mentor, the infamous attorney Roy Cohn. The movie presents Cohn as this utterly ruthless figure, practically demonic, and he teaches Trump how to survive in the brutal world of business. This seemingly outlandish character? He’s surprisingly real, making his appearance all the more terrifying and impressive. Jeremy Strong (as Cohn) and Sebastian Stan (as Trump) make for amazing portrayals of the central figures that set up and propel this complex narrative; showcasing a very close approximation to how this situation actually unfolded in real-life, further showing the complexity behind the very character of Roy Cohn.
Cohn’s presence adds to the intrigue and sets everything else in motion for what follows in the story arc, creating an instantly unforgettable impression that impacts much of Trump's behaviors throughout that specific narrative which adds many unique questions about how mentorship ultimately changed Trump, shaping the future path for this extremely iconic and historically important character for the world’s public stage and that has impacts still lingering far into the modern day. What's truly remarkable here is how incredibly close that portrayed version in the movie resembles the reality, adding intrigue, intrigue that impacts the general interest toward how truthfully those key events are reflected throughout the movie itself!
Roy Cohn Before Trump: A Legacy of Cruelty and Controversy
Actor Jeremy Strong himself described Roy Cohn as “one of the worst human beings of the 20th century.” (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert). That's saying something—considering all those terrible things happening at the time, it’s remarkable to highlight the extreme behaviors involved from such a terrible individual; making Cohn’s legacy and impact an interesting story.
Cohn’s early career involved unethical maneuvers—extortion, manipulating evidence— to “win” in those key early years, gaining immense notoriety that propelled and sustained his power. In his twenties, he took a major part in the infamous Rosenberg trial (1951), ruthlessly prosecuting Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for alleged Soviet espionage; resulting in their death sentences (something which greatly affected how he operated even in other scenarios) It's frequently argued that they may have been guilty yet the trial’s procedural abuses strongly implied that they shouldn't have been killed. This set Cohn’s reputation and style for years after! A defining and critical moment which impacted how Cohn operated within this role of an Attorney at law.
He also worked alongside Senator Joseph McCarthy in the brutal Second Red Scare, targeting suspected communists; creating immense difficulties for innocent people and his actions became some of the key factors leading to the rise of what was eventually known only as the Lavender Scare: targeting gays within the government! This is monstrous! All this cruelty ultimately created Cohn’s lasting infamy.
His post-McCarthy period saw Cohn prospering in New York as this super-connected fixer for those wealthy New Yorkers: mafia bosses (John Gotti, Carmine Galante) and high-profile business figures (George Steinbrenner), it further establishes his reach, influence, and contacts, something else highlighted very strongly through The Apprentice.
Cohn and Trump: A Partnership Forged in Discrimination and Manipulation
The Apprentice shows Cohn’s involvement in Trump’s legal battle in 1973 – defending against discrimination accusations towards Black tenants— highlighting that terrible alliance.
Their actual first encounter might be fictionalized – however, the events shown throughout that movie do display an extremely truthful portrayal; making their alliance real. This partnership became hugely significant and involved mentoring and advice; this affected Trump’s ruthless business approach– that “winning-at-all-costs” style was instilled at this exact period, using unethical practices— a core component of how Trump operates as the very person that Cohn mentored and trained; all clearly depicted in that movie and demonstrates an effective parallel which shows the intense influence exerted throughout Trump’s character development!
Roy Cohn's Downfall and Death: Disbarment and Denial
Near the end of his life, Roy Cohn finally got disbarred for decades of unethical behaviors: stealing clients’ funds, lying, even forging wills! The Washington Post describes that utterly horrific instance where he forged a will in 1975, using a pen in an unconscious man’s hand!
It took years for Cohn to get found guilty in just this single incident. This single fact showcases a systemic failure for that justice system during this era and Trump (shockingly) served as his character witness, reinforcing how profound their loyalty remained, despite clear indications of the crimes involved.
Another aspect is Cohn's homophobia; he vehemently denied being gay despite his obvious sexuality; even falsely claiming to have liver cancer— instead of AIDS — before his death in 1986 on national television! (The Apprentice accurately recreates this moment, further showing how true this version reflects real life)
Conclusion: The Enduring Shadow of Roy Cohn
Roy Cohn was a truly terrible person. His crimes and lasting impacts leave many thinking that his terrible behavior affected multiple aspects of that society; leading to further complications that go beyond this initial point in time and he also provides this cautionary tale. The Apprentice does brilliantly; presenting Cohn’s cruelty accurately and honestly; adding to that terrifying, impressive portrayal, portraying the truly toxic legacy he created that shaped Trump’s business methods (and maybe even his whole approach to politics) This makes Cohn's story critical.
