Students enter the classroom eager to absorb all the knowledge they can from their teacher, aiming to improve themselves, secure a good job, and achieve success. However, not every student uses that knowledge for the better. Some twist it to serve their own self-interest, aligning it with personal beliefs and desires. What was meant to build and create is sometimes weaponized for destruction.

Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice offers a glimpse into the making of someone like Donald Trump—where the steps taken are larger than life, leaving an impact on those fortunate or unfortunate enough to cross paths with someone whose values stray far from what we teach our children. At least, that’s the impression the film leaves behind.

The story begins with a much younger Donald J. Trump (played by Sebastian Stan), who becomes the apprentice to the infamous lawyer Roy Kohn. Kohn teaches Trump the very techniques he continues to use to this day. Unsurprisingly, Trump himself opposed the film and its story, as it paints a rather damning portrait. But the lesson the film conveys is clear—not everything we oppose is untrue. That’s the impression it leaves for its audience, especially if you approach it with an open mind.

The film introduces a young, ambitious Trump, a real estate businessman in New York during the 1970s and 1980s, and explores his close relationship with Roy Kohn (played by Jeremy Strong), who becomes his mentor and shapes his ruthless approach.

We see Trump as someone who certainly doesn’t like paying taxes and creates every possible opportunity to avoid them. His relationship with his first wife, Ivana (played by Maria Bakalova), is also explored, from the beginning of their relationship to the eventual turning point in their marriage.

The film is filled with lines that reflect the troubling reality we face today. Kohn teaches Trump a set of rules that become his lifelong mantra: “Attack, attack, attack. Deny everything, admit nothing. Never admit defeat.”

At one point, Trump, standing atop his metaphorical pedestal, proclaims his own rules for winning:

Rule 1: The world is a mess. You have to fight back. You need tough skin. Attack. Attack. Attack. If someone comes at you with a knife, you come back with a bazooka.

Rule 2: What is truth? You know what truth is? What you say is truth. What I say is truth. What he says is truth. Truth is whatever we decide. Deny everything and admit nothing. You know what truth is, Toni? What I say it is.

Rule 3 (the most important one): No matter how screwed you are, never, ever admit defeat. Always claim victory. Always. – Sounds familiar, isn`t it?

With that, the Donald Trump we see in the film, once an eager student of the infamous Rory Kohn, ultimately surpasses his mentor—not through wisdom or integrity but through arrogance and manipulation. He becomes a twisted version of Kohn’s worst traits, a transformation so shocking that even Kohn himself is left in disbelief at the outcome.

In conclusion, The Apprentice doesn’t just offer a cinematic portrayal of Donald Trump’s rise; it holds a mirror up to real life, reflecting the troubling reality of how power, manipulation, and unchecked ambition can shape a public figure—and ultimately, a nation. The film masterfully draws parallels between Trump’s formative years under Roy Kohn’s tutelage and the traits we see in the real Donald Trump today: a man who weaponizes knowledge, evades accountability, and relentlessly pursues victory at any cost.

For the American people, the significance of this film is profound. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of allowing unchecked ambition to fester in those who seek power. It challenges viewers to reflect on the values being passed down to future generations and to question the systems that enable individuals to rise by distorting truth, denying responsibility, and prioritizing personal gain over collective good.

In today’s polarized political climate, The Apprentice is more than just a film; it’s a wake-up call. It urges Americans to critically examine not only the leaders they choose but also the cultural and moral values that shape those leaders. As the lines between truth and lies blur in public discourse, the film reminds us of the importance of integrity, accountability, and moral leadership—qualities that are increasingly rare but vital to the strength of a democracy.

The sharp reality drawn between the fictionalized Trump in The Apprentice and the real-life figure demonstrates that the steps taken in one’s formative years can echo far beyond personal ambition, influencing an entire nation. At a time when the American people are questioning the very fabric of their leadership, this film underscores the importance of examining history and its lessons before allowing history to repeat itself.