Sebastian Stan criticises America’s direction two years after playing Trump in 'The Apprentice'
The actor's comments came while promoting his new film 'Fjord' at the Cannes Film Festival
Sebastian Stan has spoken out sharply about the current state of U.S. politics, saying America is in a “really, really bad place” while reflecting on his portrayal of Donald Trump in the 2024 film The Apprentice.
The 43-year-old actor made the comments during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, where he is promoting his new film Fjord, directed by Cristian Mungiu.
When asked about the relevance of The Apprentice two years after its release, journalists reportedly reacted with nervous laughter, prompting Stan to push back on the tone of the discussion.
“It’s just not a laughing matter, to be honest. It isn’t,” he said, before offering a more direct critique of the political climate in the United States.
“I think we’re in a really, really bad place. I really do,” Stan continued. “When you’re looking at what’s happening consolidation of media, censorship, threats, lawsuits that never end, the writing was on the wall. We encountered all that with the movie.”
Stan portrayed a younger Donald Trump in The Apprentice, a film that explored the future president’s rise in business during the 1970s and 1980s.
The project faced political backlash ahead of its 2024 Cannes debut, including threats of legal action from Trump’s team, which called the film “pure fiction.”
Director Ali Abbasi previously defended the film, saying he would be willing to meet Trump to discuss its interpretation and intent.
Stan also recalled the uncertainty surrounding the film’s premiere, saying there were concerns just days before Cannes about whether it would even screen.
“Three days before the festival, we were unsure if the movie was going to play,” he said, adding that the controversy ultimately increased attention around the project.
Reflecting on the broader media landscape, Stan noted parallels between the film’s subject matter and real-world events, referencing political tensions surrounding public discourse and entertainment.
He also mentioned late-night television hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, pointing to their own reported clashes with Trump-related controversies.