Jon Stewart has expressed his amusement at Donald Trump’s reaction to the casting choice of Sebastian Stan in a new biopic about the former president. The movie, titled “The Apprentice”, delves into Trump’s early days as a real estate entrepreneur and his connection with attorney Roy Cohn, with Stan portraying the controversial figure.
In response to Trump’s campaign team labelling the film as “election interference” and threatening legal action due to its portrayal of Trump, Stewart poked fun at the situation. He jokingly suggested that Trump should actually be flattered by the casting of Stan in the role. Stewart quipped, “That’s election interference? It’s not – maybe it’s election interference. But you gotta be a little bit flattered that you’re being played by Sebastian Stan.”
In a light-hearted tone, Stewart continued his jest, making a playful reference to Stan’s Marvel character: “Oh, Sebastian, if you are the Winter Soldier, why is it suddenly so warm in here?” He further joked about his own resemblance to Stan, adding, “I look like Sebastian Stan if you were to put his face through one of those filters on TikTok that show your appearance right before you die.”
“The Apprentice” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May to an enthusiastic reception, including an eight-minute ovation. The film’s director, Mr. Abbasi, addressed the audience, expressing his hope that the film would have relevance in the current political climate. He emphasized the need for art to engage with challenging realities, stating, “It’s time to make movies relevant. It’s time to make movies political again.”
The biopic reportedly includes controversial scenes illustrating Trump engaging in drug use and cosmetic surgeries. It also depicts a contentious moment involving Trump and his first wife Ivana, where Trump is shown purportedly committing sexual assault. Ivana had previously accused Trump of such actions in a 1989 divorce deposition, although she later retracted the allegation in 2015.
Through his humorous perspective on the situation, Jon Stewart’s comments offer a light-hearted take on the controversy surrounding “The Apprentice” and the reactions it has evoked from Trump and his team.