Industry Season 4 has arrived, and Episode 1 includes an unexpected cameo that caught viewers off guard—a brief appearance by a Donald Trump lookalike.
The new season is airing on HBO in the US and the BBC in the UK. While fans expected cast changes and new characters, few anticipated a presidential‑style cameo during the premiere.
About 35 minutes into Episode 1, Eric Tao, played by Ken Leung, is shown smoking a cigar while golfing with colleagues. As they discuss economics and deregulation, they are delayed by a slow group ahead on the course.
That group includes a figure seen putting in the distance, wearing a red baseball cap, light blue shirt, black trousers, and white shoes—an outfit strongly associated with Donald Trump.
The show confirms the reference through dialogue. Eric asks, “Has 47 ever allowed anyone to play through?”, a nod to Trump’s presidential number. The reply comes back, “Not in this lifetime.”
More off‑camera jokes follow, aimed at the lookalike’s golf habits and public image. The comments are brief and satirical, adding to the surreal tone of the scene.
It is important to note that Donald Trump does not actually appear in the episode. The character is played by a lookalike, seen only from afar and never clearly shown on screen.
After tiring of the delay, Eric and his group abandon the hole, and the cameo ends as quickly as it began.
The scene has already sparked discussion online, with viewers debating whether it was a joke, a political reference, or simply Industry continuing its tradition of sharp satire and uncomfortable realism.