When it comes to the highly anticipated new biopic “The Apprentice,” it seems that any publicity is beneficial publicity—even if it’s coming from the film’s most high-profile subject, former President Donald Trump.
Surprisingly, director Ali Abbasi is embracing Trump’s harsh criticism of the film, arguing that the Republican nominee’s social media tirades are only serving to draw more attention to the controversial project.
“Thanks to him, we get better publicity, and we get more people to come and watch it now. So, I’m grateful,” Abbasi told TMZ Live this week, referring to Trump’s scathing review of the film as “fake and classless” and a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job.”
The director’s comments come just days after the former president took to his Truth Social platform to slam “The Apprentice,” accusing Abbasi of making and releasing the movie as an effort to thwart his 2024 re-election bid. However, instead of avoiding Trump’s attacks, Abbasi is actively participating in the controversy and even reaching out to the former reality TV star.
“I also think he is curious. I would be curious too. It would be enjoyable for both him and myself. We can sit together. Why not?” the filmmaker told TMZ, suggesting that he’d be open to hosting a private screening for Trump and his family.
Given the scathing rhetoric the former president has already directed toward the project, it’s highly unlikely that he will accept Abbasi’s offer. In his initial criticism, Trump dismissed “The Apprentice” as a “fake and classless” movie while also accusing the production of being a “politically disgusting hatchet job” aimed at derailing his 2024 campaign.
But Abbasi remains undeterred, seemingly relishing the extra attention that Trump’s vocal disapproval has brought to the film. And for a beneficial reason—the director understands that any discussion about “The Apprentice” ultimately benefits business.
“The Apprentice” has already generated significant buzz since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, with the film’s star-studded cast earning widespread acclaim for their portrayals of some of the key figures in Trump’s inner circle. For instance, the transformative turn of “Succession” actor Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, the late attorney and political fixer who served as a powerful ally to the former president, has garnered widespread praise.
Meanwhile, “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” star Sebastian Stan is earning praise for his nuanced depiction of a young, ambitious Trump, with the actor revealing that he deliberately sought to distance himself from the “noise” surrounding the former president in order to hone his performance.
Stan stressed in an interview that it’s crucial to approach the role with an open mind and without judgment.
Despite the political firestorm swirling around “The Apprentice,” the film’s director remains confident in the final product, arguing that the sprawling narrative ultimately centers on the transformative relationship between Trump and Cohn. And with the movie already generating over $1.5 million at the box office following its opening weekend, it’s clear that Abbasi’s gamble is paying off.
As for Trump’s vehement objections, the director seems largely unfazed, expressing a willingness to engage with the former president directly should he decide to take Abbasi up on his screening offer. “It would be fun for him, and it would be fun for me,” Abbasi said. “We can sit together. Why not?”
Whether or not that invitation ever materializes, one thing is certain: “The Apprentice” is poised to remain a source of controversy and debate in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election. And if Trump’s continued vocal opposition is any indication, Abbasi and his team will likely continue to reap the rewards of the added publicity, even if it comes at the former president’s expense.