Cease-and-desist: Trump battles filmmakers over ‘The Apprentice’ biopic

Trump’s attorneys issue a cease-and-desist to halt the distribution of the new film depicting his rise to power.

Donald Trump's legal representatives have taken aggressive steps to prevent the release and distribution of “The Apprentice,” a new film that delves into the former president's early career as a real estate mogul and his ties with mentor Roy Cohn. 

The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is now at the center of a legal storm following a cease-and-desist letter aimed at blocking its US sale and release.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the letter cautions the filmmakers against pursuing a distribution deal. 

The film’s producers, however, describe “The Apprentice” as "a fair and balanced portrait of the former president" and expressed their desire for audiences to view and judge the film themselves.

“The Apprentice” features Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, presenting a critical look at Trump’s business practices, including unethical dealings and associations with organized crime. 

The film does not shy away from controversy, depicting Trump in scenes of sexual assault and drug abuse, which his team vehemently denies as "pure malicious defamation."

Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, responded with a fierce rebuke, stating, “This ‘film’ should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire.”

Directed by Ali Abbasi, known for “Holy Spider” and “Border,” and written by journalist Gabriel Sherman, “The Apprentice” has sparked not only legal threats but also discussions about its portrayal of Trump. 

At a Cannes press conference, Abbasi commented on the lawsuit threats humorously, suggesting that the film might not necessarily displease Trump and even offered to screen the movie for him personally.