Why the Controversial Trump Biopic 'The Apprentice' Was Censored in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — The highly anticipated Donald Trump biopic, *The Apprentice*, made its debut in Hong Kong cinemas this Thursday, despite its official release date slated for November 28. However, the film was subjected to the scrutiny of local censors before its screening.

Directed by the Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, known for *Holy Spider*, *The Apprentice* stars Sebastian Stan in the role of Donald Trump. The narrative chronicles Trump’s ascent as a real estate mogul in New York during the 1970s and 1980s, culminating with the publication of his ghostwritten book, *The Art of the Deal*, in 1987. The movie delves into Trump’s complex relationships with key figures in his life, including his father (portrayed by Martin Donovan), his brother Fred Jnr (Charlie Carrick), and his first wife, Ivana (played by Maria Bakalova).

A significant focus of the film is on Trump’s mentorship under Roy Cohn, portrayed by Jeremy Strong of *Succession* fame. Cohn, a notorious lawyer and political fixer, instilled in Trump aggressive negotiation tactics, emphasizing the importance of dominating adversaries and never conceding defeat.

*The Apprentice* does not shy away from exploring Trump’s controversial personal life. The film openly addresses various aspects of his character, including his infidelities, health issues, and racially insensitive views. It even touches on his cosmetic procedures that contributed to his recognizable hairstyle.

One of the most shocking elements of the biopic is a contentious scene depicting an incident of alleged marital rape involving Trump and Ivana. This portrayal references real-life events highlighted during their divorce, although Ivana later downplayed the account.

Trump has publicly condemned the film, referring to it as "a cheap, defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job," and has even labeled the creators “human scum.” In May, his legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers. Abbasi responded with an intriguing offer of a private screening for Trump himself.

Adding to the film's notoriety, Sebastian Stan, known for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealed that he was invited to join the prestigious *Actors on Actors* series by Variety but had to decline because no one was willing to engage in a conversation about his role in *The Apprentice*. Stan expressed frustration, stating during a recent Q&A session, "I couldn't find another actor to do it with me because they were too afraid to go and talk about this movie."

While the film includes numerous provocative themes, Hong Kong's censorship board opted to cut one specific scene: a fleeting instance of male nudity. In this sequence, Cohn is briefly shown in bed with another man during a wild party at his home. Trump, depicted as uncomfortable, inadvertently stumbles into the room and witnesses explicit acts before hastily retreating.

Curiously, while this particular content led to edits, other films featuring more explicit sexual content—such as the Taiwanese drama *The Chronicles of Libidoists*—have previously received Category III ratings, allowing them to screen uncut. Many viewers may be surprised by the censorship of a single short clip in *The Apprentice*, especially since the rest of the film remains largely unaltered.

The Hong Kong censors have not disclosed the reasoning behind their decision to cut this footage, and the local distributor, Golden Scene, has remained silent on the matter. The absence of this brief nudity scene, while jarring, is unlikely to significantly detract from the core storytelling of *The Apprentice*, though it perhaps diminishes the full depiction of Trump's reaction to the unexpected scene of sexual activity.

As Hong Kong audiences flock to theaters to witness this exploration of one of the 21st century's most divisive figures, they’ll find themselves deprived of a key facet that could have painted a fuller picture of Trump's character. Will *The Apprentice* ignite discussions about censorship or spark debates about how society views its controversial figures? Only time will tell.