With “The Apprentice” not yet released to the public, it’s not clear what, exactly, Donald Trump’s camp is referring to in the film as “false.” However, all signs seem to point to a scene that portrays a sexual assault allegation previously made against the former president by his first wife, Ivana Trump.
As noted in a 2015 report by The Daily Beast, Harry Hurt III’s 1993 biography, “Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump,” revealed that in the midst of their divorce, Ivana had alleged in a deposition that she’d been violently sexually assaulted by the businessman. It is worth noting that the book came with a disclaimer from Ivana, who claimed in a statement by way of her ex-husband’s legal team that it hadn’t been sexual assault. Rather, she claimed, it had been a sexual experience devoid of love. “As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a ‘rape,’ but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense,” she said. Several years down the line, in an interview with Time, Ivana seemed to double down on that. “That was all just the lawyers’ talk,” she told the outlet.
“The Apprentice” clearly threatens to bring up the allegations once again, hence Donald’s team’s plans to sue. However, one person who isn’t fazed is Ali Abbasi.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
