Trump accuses Spike Lee of delivering a ‘racist hit’ on him at Oscars

From left: Charlie Wachtel, Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott after wining the award for best adapted screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman" during the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Feb. 24, 2019. (Noel West/The New York Times)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Spike Lee accepts the Best Adapted Screenplay award for "BlacKkKlansman" from Samuel L. Jackson onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Director Spike Lee attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall on February 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Jameela Jamil, Spike Lee
Director Spike Lee attends the Warner Bros. Pictures 'DUNKIRK' US premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on July 18, 2018 in New York City. / AFP PHOTO / ANGELA WEISSANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Lady Gaga (2nd from R), Mark Ronson (R) Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt and Benjamin Rice pose with the Music (Original Song) award for 'Shallow' from 'A Star Is Born' backstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Sayles via Getty Images)
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga pose backstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Petit via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry speak onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Keegan-Michael Key during the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Feb. 24, 2019. (Noel West/The New York Times)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24:(EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Olivia Colman winner Best Actress award for the film 'The Favourite' onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Noel West
Brian May of Queen and Adam Lambert perform during the 91st annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Feb. 24, 2019. (Noel West/The New York Times)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Becky Neiman-Cobb (L) and Domee Shi, winners of Best Animated Short Film for "Bao," pose in the press room during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Regina King accepts the Actress in a Supporting Role award for 'If Beale Street Could Talk' onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) James McAvoy and Danai Gurira speak onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Michelle Yeoh and Pharrell Williams speak onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson speak onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

PUBLISHED: February 25, 2019 at 5:57 a.m. | UPDATED: February 25, 2019 at 1:03 p.m.

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By John Wagner | The Washington Post

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump struck back Monday at film director Spike Lee, accusing him of delivering a “racist hit” during an Oscar acceptance speech in which Lee referenced the history of U.S. slavery and urged people to vote in the 2020 elections.

Lee did not mention Trump by name in his remarks Sunday night after winning in the best adapted screenplay category for “BlacKkKlansman,” a movie about an African American detective in the Colorado Springs, Colo., police department who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s.

Lee thanked his grandmother for having put him through college and film school and praised her and other descendants of slaves for having “built this country into what it is today.” He then observed that the 2020 presidential election is “around the corner.”

“Let’s all mobilize,” he said. “Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”

Trump took to Twitter on Monday morning to respond, mocking Lee for having read from notes. Trump also listed what he contends are his accomplishments that benefit African American voters.

Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts,etc.) than almost any other Pres!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2019

“Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts, etc.) than almost any other Pres!” Trump wrote.

His tweet was not the first time that Trump has responded to award recipients.

Following criticism by Meryl Streep at the 2017 Golden Globes, Trump lambasted her on Twitter the following morning, calling her “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.”