Spike Lee ‘puzzled’ by cordial Trump-Mamdani meeting at White House

Movie director and New York Metropolis icon Spike Lee stated Saturday on the Toronto Movie Competition that he was “shocked” by the cordial Oval Workplace assembly between President Donald Trump and newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani throughout their joint press convention on Friday.

Some viewers of Friday’s information convention — together with Trump critic Lee — had been shocked by the amicable nature of the assembly between the 2 males, who’ve been engaged in a disagreement since Mamdani emerged because the mayor’s front-runner.

“[During the election, Trump] referred to as him a communist and stated New York Metropolis would go underneath,” Lee stated on the competition’s press convention. reported by Variety. “I imply, the president stated he was going to chop off federal funding. So given the issues which were stated about this fast turnaround… I am amazed.”

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Movie director Spike Lee on the Toronto Movie Competition on Saturday, November 22, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Daniele Venturelli/Getty Photographs)

The movie director continued, recalling Trump’s earlier warnings about what would occur to New York Metropolis if Mamdani received the mayoralty.

“In the event you return and see what the president stated about him, and what would occur to New York Metropolis if that had been [Mamdani] received, it simply appears… It looks like they discovered widespread floor one way or the other,” he famous.

Turning his consideration to others who predicted that town could be a catastrophe if Mamdani grew to become mayor, Lee stated, “There have been lots of people who stated that if Mamdani received, they would depart New York Metropolis. Now I really need the true numbers when somebody truly leaves!’

In 2024, previous to the presidential elections, Lee called the prospect of Trump’s re-election a ‘doomsday state of affairs’.

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Though many anticipated fireworks throughout Friday’s joint press convention, the pair discovered unity throughout their assembly, with Trump telling the media that the pair share the mission of a greater New York Metropolis.

“We now have one factor in widespread,” Trump stated Friday. “We wish this metropolis of ours, that we love, to do very properly. And I wished to congratulate the mayor. He actually ran an unbelievable race in opposition to, you understand, lots of sensible individuals, beginning with the early primaries in opposition to some very robust individuals, very sensible individuals. And he beat them, and he beat them simply. And I congratulated him, and we talked about some issues that had been very imply, like housing and constructing homes, meals and prizes.”

President Donald Trump met with newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani within the Oval Workplace for the primary time on Friday. (Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Photographs)

The president and the newly elected mayor met on the White Home on Friday afternoon earlier than opening the doorways of the Oval Workplace to the media for questions. Trump predicted that New York Metropolis, his hometown, could have a “nice mayor,” whereas noting that the White Home could be there to assist.

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“I believe hopefully you are going to have a very nice mayor and the higher he does, the happier I’m,” Trump stated. “I’ll say there isn’t any distinction in social gathering, there isn’t any distinction in something. And we’re going to assist him, to make everybody’s dream come true: a robust and really secure New York.”

Trump remained seated throughout his press occasion as Mamdani stood subsequent to him and answered a handful of questions. The pair shared a hopeful outlook on the long run, with Trump arguing that regardless of their political variations, they are going to work collectively and likewise share a handful of priorities, specifically affordability and reducing the price of residing for Individuals.

President Donald Trump meets with newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Photographs)

The mayor-elect added that he appreciated the assembly and stated it largely targeted on how one can enhance New York Metropolis and assist households combating prices.

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Fox Information’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.