Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account to criticize ‘The Apprentice’, a new film directed by Ali Abbasi, which depicts Trump’s rise in New York City’s real estate scene under the guidance of Roy Cohn.

The film, starring Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, premiered on October. 11, distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment.

Trump called the movie a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job,” accusing it of being released to damage his campaign before the 2024 Presidential Election. He also questioned whether the filmmakers had the legal right to use the name ‘The Apprentice’.

“A FAKE and CLASSLESS Movie written about me… will hopefully ‘bomb’,” Trump wrote. He further labeled the film’s creators as “human scum,” expressing frustration that they were trying to harm the “Make America Great Again” movement.

Director Ali Abbasi responded on X (formerly Twitter), inviting Trump to discuss the film. “Thanks for getting back to us, Donald Trump. I am available to talk further if you want,” Abbasi wrote, humorously adding that his schedule was tight due to press obligations but offering to call Trump the next day.

@realDonaldTrump aww ????Thank you so much! You didn’t need to!!!( although my name is a bit misspelled)#TheApprentice I hope to see you guys at the premiere if you happen to be in town. pic.twitter.com/l1BwZFLn8r

— Ali Abbasi (@_aliabbasi_) October 7, 2024

‘The Apprentice’ premiered at Cannes earlier in the year, where Trump’s campaign preemptively labeled it “garbage” and “pure fiction,” and threatened legal action. Abbasi had previously extended an invitation to Trump to watch the movie and discuss it in person.

(with inputs from Variety)