“Paranoid, scared little man”: The Apprentice’s Sebastian Stan criticizes Donald Trump ahead of the US election

Last updated:November 5, 2024 1:09 PM IST

Sebastian Stan recently described Doanld Trump as “paranoid” in an interview ahead of voting for the US presidential election on November 5th.

Sebastian Stan recently sharply criticized Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the US presidential election race, ahead of the vote on November 5th. The actor, who portrays a young Trump in the controversial film “The Apprentice,” described the former president in a recent interview as a “paranoid, scared little man” who “doesn't care about his situation.” During his appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Stan encouraged viewers to watch the film to truly understand the character.

The actor pointed out that while facts and information are widely shared, they do not reflect the personal experience of being with someone like Trump. “It's the experience of being with this person for two hours, seeing where they're coming from, and really asking yourself at the end of this film, 'Do you trust this person?' Do you really trust that this guy is going to make a decision that's good for you or good for him?'” he said.

Stan continued, “And let me tell you something: There's still a paranoid, scared little man out there fighting the good fight to get into the Manhattan members' club and have a plaque on the wall too become. He doesn't care about your situation. The point is that he has to get there first. And that’s exactly what the film is.”

Sebastian Stan acknowledged that some viewers might question the film's credibility and expressed concern about widespread uncertainty about today's truth. Stan called it a “problem” and expressed that Trump had “messed it up so much” that it had become difficult for people to understand what was real. “At that point you can create your own truth, believe whatever you want, and that’s what people do. But I think if you really care, you can still find it,” he added.

When asked about the potential impact of producing “The Apprentice” and taking a stand against Trump, Stan acknowledged the risks involved, especially given Trump's likelihood of re-election and his promise to retaliate against those who have opposed him. He revealed that many people advised him against doing the film.

“I mean, you know very well that Jimmy Kimmel asked me if I still had my Romanian passport when he was told [Trump] attempts to deport American citizens. As he [Kimmel] I just said, “Sounds like Europe is the right place for me.” But yeah, I don't believe in fear… Again, I come from a place where people were silenced and taught to be afraid life. And that was another reason why I thought, 'I have to do it,'” he said.

Directed by Ali Abbasi, “The Apprentice” examines Donald Trump's rise as a real estate entrepreneur in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s and his relationship with attorney Roy Cohn. The film stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, Martin Donovan as Trump's father Fred and Maria Bakalova as his first wife Ivana.