Former President Donald Trump has shared his thoughts for the first time since the release of the biographical film about him titled “The Apprentice.”

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday night, the Republican presidential candidate stated, “This is a FAKE and CLASSLESS movie about me called The Apprentice (Do they even have permission to use that name?). I hope it fails miserably. It’s a cheap, defamatory, and politically revolting attack, released just before the 2024 Presidential Election in an attempt to undermine the most significant political movement in our country’s history, ‘MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’

The film, directed by Ali Abbasi, features Sebastian Stan portraying Trump and Jeremy Strong playing his mentor Roy Cohn. It debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May before hitting theaters on Friday.

Trump added in his post, “My late ex-wife, Ivana, was a generous and amazing individual, and we had a wonderful relationship until her passing. The writer behind this nonsense, Gabe Sherman, a disreputable and untalented individual, was aware of this but chose to ignore it.”

“It’s unfortunate that people who engage in hurtful endeavors like this are allowed to spread lies to damage a movement much greater than any individual. MAGA2024!”

One of the film’s most disputed scenes depicts Trump assaulting his then-wife Ivana (played by Maria Bakalova).

The alleged incident, which Ivana Trump later recanted in 2015, stemmed from a legal deposition she gave during her 1990 divorce, according to screenwriter Gabriel Sherman. In a 1993 book titled “Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump,” Ivana stated that in their marriage, Trump “behaved very differently” and referred to an incident as “rape,” but clarified that she did not intend for her words to be taken literally.

Earlier this year, the Trump campaign threatened legal action against the filmmakers, calling “The Apprentice” “pure fiction that sensationalizes long-debunked lies.”

During its opening weekend, “The Apprentice” generated $1.58 million at the U.S. box office, ranking No. 10 behind other films such as “Terrifier 3” (which debuted at No. 1), “Joker: Folie à Deux” (No. 3), and a re-release of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” from 1993 (No. 9), as reported by Box Office Mojo.

‘The Apprentice’ director Ali Abbasi responds to Trump: ‘I am open to further discussion’

The film is portrayed as “a frank depiction of Donald Trump’s ascent to power” during the 1970s and ’80s, offering an unfiltered perspective on Trump’s complex and often controversial journey.

Abbasi has expressed his willingness to discuss the film with Trump and has offered to screen it for him. In a response posted on X, formerly Twitter, Abbasi reiterated this offer.

“Thank you for your response, @realDonaldTrump. I am available for further discussion if you’re interested,” Abbasi wrote on Monday. “Today is hectic with promotion for #TheApprentice, but I may be able to call you tomorrow.”

In a recent interview with YSL News, Abbasi talked about the polarizing nature of the biopic.

“Our goal was to present a nuanced portrayal of these individuals,” he explained. Consequently, “some feel it’s too flattering while others find it too harsh. I’m not looking to create propaganda for Trump, nor do I want to make a piece meant to tear him down. We can’t allow current politics to dictate our artistic choices.”

“The Apprentice” encompasses numerous years of Trump’s life, starting with a young Trump working in his father Fred’s real estate business. He has aspirations of opening a luxury hotel in Manhattan but initially starts by collecting rent door to door. He encounters Cohn, who first aids the Trumps in legal disputes and later becomes a guiding figure for the ambitious real estate mogul.

Taking Cohn’s advice to heart (which states there are only two types of people, “winners and losers”), he expands his hotel ventures, rising to become a prominent figure in Manhattan.

The narrative takes a turn, however, focusing on how Donald’s pride and ruthlessness begin to dominate his personality. He becomes unfaithful to his wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova) and inflicts harm in one of the film’s most unsettling moments, the protagonist turns away from his mentor as Cohn succumbs to illness and ultimately passes away due to AIDS.