Spike Lee ‘puzzled’ by cordial Trump-Mamdani assembly at White Home

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

Talking on the Toronto Movie Pageant on Saturday, movie director and New York Metropolis icon Spike Lee mentioned he was "puzzled" by the cordial Oval Workplace assembly between President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani throughout their joint press convention on Friday.

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

"[During the election, Trump] known as him a communist and mentioned New York City was going to go down the drain," Lee mentioned on the pageant's press convention, as reported by Variety . "I imply, the President mentioned he was going to chop off federal funding. So from the issues that have been mentioned to this fast turnaround… I’m puzzled."

TRUMP, MAMDANI SET TO FACE-OFF IN FIRST OVAL OFFICE MEETING — WHAT’S ON THE TABLE

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

The movie director continued, recalling the earlier warnings from Trump about what would occur to New York Metropolis if Mamdani have been to win the mayorship.

"While you return and see what the President mentioned about him, and what would occur to New York Metropolis if [Mamdani] gained, it simply appears… It looks like they one way or the other discovered widespread floor," he famous.

Turning his consideration to others who predicted town would develop into a catastrophe if Mamdani have been to develop into mayor, Lee mentioned, "There have been lots of people saying if Mamdani gained, they have been going to depart New York Metropolis. Now, I really need the true numbers if anyone truly left!"

In 2024, forward of the presidential election, Lee called the prospect of Trump’s reelection a ‘doomsday’ state of affairs.

TRUMP PREDICTS 'CIVIL' MEETING WITH MAMDANI DESPITE PAST COMMENTS ABOUT EACH OTHER

Whereas many would have anticipated fireworks throughout Friday's joint press conference , the pair discovered unity throughout their assembly, with Trump telling the media the pair share the mission of a greater New York Metropolis.

"Now we have one factor in widespread," Trump mentioned Friday. "We would like this metropolis of ours that we like to do very nicely. And I needed to congratulate the mayor. He actually ran an unbelievable race towards, , quite a lot of sensible folks, beginning with the early primaries towards some very robust folks, very sensible folks. And he beat them, and he beat them simply. And I congratulated him, and we talked about some issues in very sturdy widespread, like housing and getting housing constructed and meals and costs."

President Donald Trump met with New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for the primary time on Friday within the Oval Workplace. (Jim Watson / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

The president and mayor-elect met on the White Home Friday afternoon earlier than opening the Oval Workplace doorways to the media for questions. Trump predicted New York Metropolis, his hometown, will get a "nice mayor" whereas remarking that the White Home could be there to help.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"I believe you are going to have, hopefully, a extremely nice mayor and the higher he does, the happier I'm," Trump mentioned. "I'll say there is not any distinction in social gathering, there is not any distinction in something. And we will be serving to him, to make everyone's dream come true, having a robust and really secure New York."

Trump remained seated throughout his press occasion, whereas Mamdani stood by his facet and fielded a handful of questions. The pair shared a hopeful outlook for the longer term, with Trump arguing that, regardless of their political variations, they'll work collectively and likewise share a handful of priorities, particularly affordability and decreasing the price of residing for People.

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

The mayor-elect added that he was appreciative of the assembly and mentioned it largely targeted on tips on how to higher New York Metropolis and assist households fighting prices.