The Apprentice's Sebastian Stan Proclaims, "Each of Us Has a Trump Inside"

In a delightful twist of reality, Sebastian Stan takes on the rather unsettling persona of Donald Trump in the upcoming film, The Apprentice, directed by Ali Abbasi. In an exclusive tête-à-tête, the star of Captain America: The Winter Soldier shared some surprising reflections that straddled the line between audacious and utterly relatable. Stan posits, “I think that there’s a Trump in all of us to some extent.” I know, I know—this is hardly the juicy gossip most expect when discussing our former president, but it’s worth a ponder. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all admit our inner Trump without causing nuclear-level Twitter wars?

The film, due to hit U.S. theaters on October 11 (mark your calendars, folks!), chronicles Trump’s ascendance from the glittering world of real estate—cue the gold-plated toilet—into the chaotic realm of politics. Stan argues that we need to face the “darker elements” that linger within us. “By bringing them into the light,” he explains, “we can understand how to have a better relationship with them rather than suppressing and avoiding.” Because who doesn’t love a little self-exploration mixed with existential dread?

When it comes to truly understanding the man he’s portraying, Stan elucidates, “I understood that drive to rise, to overcome at whatever cost, and to win.” Ah yes, winning—the American pastime. It’s almost ironic how we adore winners, yet often despise the lengths some will go to claim victory. “It felt relatable in many ways,” he adds, which is a noble way of saying, “I’ve been there, folks. I’ve had my share of struggles on the slippery slopes of the American dream.”

Speaking of dreams—or should I say nightmares?—Trump remains a divisive figure in the political landscape, almost like a two-headed dragon that some worship and others loathe. Stan notes, “People feel very strongly about him in two different extremes. They think he’s either God’s son or he’s Lucifer incarnate.” Can we perhaps settle for a more palatable version of, say, your mildly annoying uncle at Thanksgiving? “I think we need to bring him back down to earth in the hope of understanding,” he mused, as if he were serving up a plate of empathy with a side of sanity.

At the heart of it all, Stan expresses a desire that this film nudges people closer to reconnecting with their own humanity. Ah, humanity—the ever-elusive thread that ties us together, wrapped tightly around a few personal grievances and moments of awkward small talk. Who knows, perhaps after watching The Apprentice, we might find that deep down, we’re all just a little more human after all.