The Apprentice: How Roy Cohn Shaped Donald Trump’s Path to Power

Long before he was a reality TV icon or the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump was a young man with lofty ambitions but few connections to the real estate world that would one day make him famous. His rise from the son of a Queens developer to one of New York’s most recognised figures — and eventually the U.S. presidency — is the focus of The Apprentice, the new political drama directed by Ali Abbasi. The film doesn’t merely chronicle Trump’s early life; it takes a hard look at the mentor behind his success: the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn.

Starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn, The Apprentice offers a compelling, often unsettling look at how a young, inexperienced Trump was moulded by Cohn’s ruthless strategies. The film follows their relationship in the 1970s and 1980s, as Cohn teaches Trump the art of winning at all costs — a philosophy that Trump would later carry into his business empire and political career.

Cohn’s lessons to Trump, delivered with the venom of a man well-versed in political warfare, form the backbone of the film. “Attack, attack, attack,” Cohn says in one of the film’s most powerful scenes. “Admit nothing, deny everything. And above all, no matter what happens, claim victory. Never admit defeat.” These words of advice — almost like a twisted mantra — are echoed by Trump throughout his career, from his real estate deals to his time in the White House.

While The Apprentice focuses on this formative relationship, it also gives viewers a deeper look at Trump’s personal life, particularly his tumultuous marriage to Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova. In one particularly raw and dramatic scene, Trump and Ivana argue bitterly about their relationship, culminating in a violent confrontation. It’s a shocking moment that highlights not just Trump’s personal struggles, but also the darker aspects of his character — a side often hidden behind the bravado.

Director Ali Abbasi, best known for his work on Border, said in a recent interview: “This isn’t a biopic in the traditional sense. It’s more about the relationship between these two men and how Cohn’s philosophy shaped Trump into the man we know today. I wanted to explore what drives someone to act the way Trump does — and I think Roy Cohn was a huge part of that.”

The film takes audiences through pivotal moments in Trump’s early career, including his controversial Grand Hyatt deal in New York. With Cohn’s help, Trump pressured city officials to approve his ambitious plan to revamp a struggling hotel on 42nd Street. The film portrays Trump as an eager, slightly naive figure in his early days, but one who quickly adopts Cohn’s tactics to climb to the top.

As Sebastian Stan steps into the role of Trump in, The Apprentice, he brings a nuanced performance that highlights Trump’s charm and ambition, without descending into caricature. His portrayal captures the younger Trump’s hunger for success and need for approval from his father, Fred Trump. Stan said of his role: “I didn’t want to just imitate Trump. I wanted to show what might have been going on behind the scenes, what pushed him to take the actions he did, and how Cohn’s influence lingered in his decisions.”

Meanwhile, Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn is nothing short of magnetic. Known for his deeply captivating performances, Strong portrays Cohn as both mentor and manipulator, with a sharp, almost reptilian quality. “There’s a moment where you see that Cohn really believes in what he’s teaching Trump,” Strong noted in an interview. “To him, it’s not just about winning — it’s about survival. And he’s passing that on to Trump.”

Though the film ends long before Trump’s presidency, it sets the stage for understanding how a man raised in New York real estate circles could go on to lead the world’s most powerful country. Cohn’s lessons resonate throughout the film, The Apprentice, leaving viewers with the sense that Trump’s rise to power was not only inevitable but engineered by his mentor’s ruthless worldview.

The Apprentice is an exploration of how ambition, power, and loyalty collide. The film’s portrayal of Trump’s relationship with Cohn is one of mutual dependence, with Trump gaining the cunning he needs to succeed, and Cohn enjoying the chance to shape a protégé in his own image.

For those eager to see this compelling political drama on the big screen, The Apprentice is now showing in select cinemas across the UK, including:

• Curzon Cinemas in London
• Everyman Cinemas in Leeds, Manchester, and Bristol
• Picturehouse Cinemas in Edinburgh and Oxford

If you’re interested in political films that explore the personal relationships behind historical figures, this is one you won’t want to miss.

To read more into the impact and reviews of The Apprentice, check out this comprehensive analysis on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film’s portrayal of Trump and Cohn is explored in detail.

For more updates on where The Apprentice is showing in the UK, and other film insights, visit EyeOnLondon for ongoing coverage.