The Apprentice movie: Fact or Fiction? Unpacking 10 Controversial Moments!
The Apprentice: Separating Fact From Fiction in Trump's Early Years
The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi's new biopic starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, is already super controversial! This movie focuses on Trump’s earlier life; specifically that crucial relationship with Roy Cohn, revealing a period full of intrigue, controversy and those seriously questionable and even illegal dealings from this iconic pair; really giving an intimate view of this dynamic which profoundly impacted not only Trump's career, but really shapes American politics today. And because this film dropped so close to the 2024 election, naturally, there are major discussions around these specific events; raising the question – how much of this film is really true? It's fact-based, per Abbasi (The Wrap), but a deep dive is needed! Let’s investigate some controversial moments and how these events impact everyone!
This whole discussion explores important details in this controversial biographical film; showcasing a history that some individuals might want to easily forget, however its significance and impact to contemporary discussions and perspectives makes it highly valuable.
10 Moments from The Apprentice: Fact-Checking the Film's Claims
10. Roy Cohn's Ruthless Tactics: A Well-Documented Reality
Roy Cohn? That was a ruthless, hugely powerful and incredibly problematic attorney and figure, notorious for cutthroat tactics; those practices are very well known. His shady deals involved helping out notorious criminals, narrowly escaping multiple indictments for things like perjury, tampering with witnesses. That shady reputation was legendary!
The Apprentice's portrayal is spot-on! His willingness to utilize everything—even unethical tactics—matches accounts perfectly, using illegal practices to produce positive outcomes in various settings; that made Cohn so infamous and highly controversial. The specific portrayal used for Trump within this film mirrors his use of similarly controversial tactics, adding significant insight into how their interactions worked. The actions highlighted from Cohn's past history within the movie match real-world events from multiple confirmed sources perfectly.
9. Trump's Racial Discrimination Lawsuit: The Shocking Truth
The Apprentice shows Trump facing a racial discrimination lawsuit. He’s accused of rejecting Black tenants for apartments, then leasing to white renters immediately afterward! The movie suggests it is a highly problematic lawsuit; and that they might've used highly questionable actions to win! These actions raise plenty of ethical questions. Yet this happened!
Documents from the FBI website confirm that 1972-74 investigation and court records such as markings on applications (“C” for “colored”) and the huge $100 million countersuit from that period are incredibly important because the movie is accurate on these matters; which showcase not just how terrible those events are but it emphasizes just how much they directly mirrored events. It is absolutely real!
8. Trump's NYC Tax Breaks: A Billion-Dollar Scandal
The film shows Trump rebuilding the Commodore Hotel— using massive political influence that was only really achieved through interactions with powerful figures to achieve some political aims; a story about how his own connections help him manipulate various elements to help achieve those initial business and construction aims. Those tax breaks are heavily highlighted. Did that actually happen?
Yes! His 40-year tax abatement is documented! That alone had a massive cost: $360 million in missing taxes for the city. The amount generated over time exceeded this original figure vastly! The New York Times detailed the situation in 2016– it totaled $885 million in lost tax revenue for that particular arrangement – an amazing amount, considering those specific details that involve how long this agreement lasted, and its profound and significant impacts upon those around it.
7. Trump's 1980s Financial Troubles: A Near Collapse
The film depicts Trump ignoring Cohn’s financial advice during that same time and the risks involved; those events portray those moments of risky decisions from the film, and their eventual collapse; eventually leading to problems and huge debts which emphasized a point which involved those consequences – and it involves the use of questionable and even illegal practices, adding an additional ethical layer; creating many significant challenges; which made his story more relevant to audiences! This might’ve been exaggerated in the film; it doesn't quite mirror reality, however it demonstrates how he would ignore important warnings which emphasized the risks and potentially disastrous impacts involved when only considering his personal short-term benefit; yet ignoring much larger ethical concerns; showing those important traits which later led to his difficulties!
And this was true! The New York Times documented those very risky choices, those same issues related to massive financial debts in the 1980s and that led to several bankruptcies! This accurately describes Trump’s financial struggles which are important to really convey an essential understanding to this entire story, making it relatable and providing critical context in certain points of that same storyline. And while it is not detailed exactly, using funds from his father shows just why it worked.
6. Fred Trump Jr.’s Addiction and Early Death: A Family Tragedy
The film portrays Fred Trump Jr. (Trump's older brother) battling substance abuse, after being fired as a pilot – and it emphasizes just why Trump's relationship with him could only get worse; creating additional points of conflict between the two, highlighting important and deeply traumatic details regarding substance abuse – leading to his very early and unexpected death.
It’s true. Trump's statements to The Washington Post (2019) reveal his regret for how that family dynamic really developed; those additional insights into this same event further provide those kinds of crucial and complex personal emotions involved within the story that shows this tragic narrative in an intimate light – it does confirm the important family issue of addiction which would only lead to negative consequences for everyone involved. However, the exact scene of them might be fabricated.
5. Trump and Ivana's Prenuptial Agreement: Protecting Assets
The Apprentice depicts Cohn pushing for a prenup between Trump and Ivana; conveying exactly why prenups should always be a key part of protecting wealth during any marriage; an interesting perspective for an early story from a business mogul; creating interesting insights into that era and perspectives within that specific community. That scene involved anxieties and potential pressures but the actual legal details concerning that particular agreement are less certain. But that perspective involving wealth and how such important issues involving relationships around finances remained consistent with those events detailed around the same timeframe. His perspectives involving business really emphasizes a certain aspect highlighted within the movie itself, demonstrating exactly how such approaches influence other outcomes.
Their 1991 divorce settlement shows details concerning some of the contents of that agreement; it resulted in significant sums of money plus some amazing possessions for Ivana. The various comments around how that pre-nup agreement protects wealth are consistent; showcasing once more how this particular era of financial concerns related to the lives and dealings of those highly influential people shaped society during those early periods. The involvement of Cohn in actually drafting the actual agreement remains unconfirmed!
4. Roy Cohn’s AIDS: Denial and Tragic Reality
The Apprentice shows Cohn battling AIDS, presenting this duality; depicting Cohn openly spewing homophobic rhetoric in public yet engaged in private same-sex relationships which ended up resulting in contracting and ultimately dying from AIDS. That’s not made up; but it presents the difficult reality, that people who display hate can struggle in these ways internally; this makes the whole experience far more complex.
It's true, his struggles are documented. But Cohn's outward denial persisted until death; that very specific part showcases this hypocrisy found amongst some members within society. That 60 Minutes interview as portrayed is spot on; those same themes involved hypocrisy – and this really conveys a highly relatable situation that still happens in today’s society.
3. Trump's Amphetamine Use: Unconfirmed Rumors
The Apprentice shows Trump using amphetamines to avoid sleep – helping create more opportunities; a significant plotline highlighting a detail about drug abuse for ambitious and goal-oriented business professionals during that timeframe – especially within that cutthroat setting of 1970s New York, emphasizing certain aspects related to drugs during this period and how frequently they had been utilized during that time frame and those involved environments which made many more people make these kinds of decisions to use this and similar substances. Is it true?
There's no confirmed proof, although persistent rumours suggest this happened. Trump’s stated refusal to use drugs and alcohol (due to those serious family tragedies associated with drug abuse which emphasizes another thematic point related to alcohol, adding additional complexity into how these events might’ve unfolded differently. That depiction might reflect the broader drug use habits during this period! That could be seen in many aspects relating to Trump's portrayal as it focuses more upon that inherent aspect regarding his persona.
2. Trump's Cosmetic Surgeries: Ivana's Testimony and Trump’s Pushback
The film portrays Trump getting liposuction and a scalp reduction procedure which demonstrates how important beauty remains in achieving social status and success. These graphic scenes serve a purpose to show Trump’s metaphorical decay which greatly impacted not only how Trump is depicted as a character but also provides significant allegorical elements and the eventual breakdown of the human experience as it relates to his specific and highly individual experiences during that period. Those procedures were denied; by Trump.
Yet this isn't purely invented. Ivana Trump’s 1990 testimony confirms that hair transplant which greatly impacted not only this specific biopic but really changes viewers perceptions towards Trump. The campaign stated “This garbage is pure fiction.” Yet Ivana’s sworn statements directly back up these parts within that movie.
1. Trump's Alleged Sexual Assault of Ivana: A Highly Sensitive Matter
That's the most intense part. This scene portrays Trump sexually assaulting Ivana; that shows those very powerful implications and highly personal and intimate moments which are never easy to process even when depicted indirectly. It serves a critical purpose within this movie’s storyline: adding another dimension towards illustrating Trump's character which can’t be emphasized otherwise.
This mirrors Ivana's 1989 divorce testimony. In 2015, she clarified it wasn’t meant to imply criminal intent; that this was used specifically for leverage to further support other claims surrounding financial aspects and abuse. This is not an explicit confirmation and the whole event remains complicated; however, Ivana’s own words add weight to the situation; a detail omitted by Trump's campaign, further demonstrating a very biased perspective to further deny aspects highlighted throughout this movie’s storytelling that impacts those involved viewers in powerful and unforgettable ways!
Conclusion: The Apprentice's Uncomfortable Truths About Power, Politics and The Personalities Behind Those Important Historical Moments
The Apprentice is far more than a simple biographical movie. It forces examination of Trump's past; showcasing that intensely problematic relationship with Cohn; creating an exploration involving abuse, power, and politics – and all those resulting, truly unforgettable, dramatic moments and intense storylines only achievable with the inclusion of several questionable yet critical events during this period. Many of those moments highlight parts directly confirmed through existing documents and those statements made during earlier periods which are rarely, if ever really mentioned openly in public again. This particular movie delivers exactly what the title implies, generating additional scrutiny into Trump’s actions which continues to spark many intense discussions within the larger cultural landscape. Even when these events are somewhat vague and do leave some parts unconfirmed or unclear— the insights offered provide more compelling reasons for making these kinds of investigations in order to evaluate those kinds of narratives inherent within the portrayal.
