Meghan McCain defends Spike Lee's Oscars speech, after Trump slams it as a 'racist hit'
Meghan McCain and her fellow co-hosts on The View weighed in on Spike Lee’s acceptance speech at the Oscars and on President Trump’s response that it constituted a “racist hit” against him.
Lee’s speech, in accepting the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film BlacKkKlansman, ended with this:
“The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”
Although his name was never mentioned, Trump took Lee’s words as a personal attack and responded in kind with a tweet:
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
McCain, who usually represents a more conservative perspective on the show, came to Lee’s defense on Monday.
“Art is political. I’m on a different side than he is politically, but I like people taking time when they have a moment to,” McCain said. “I’m not one of these people that’s like everybody in Hollywood should shut the blank up. I actually think we have a reality show president. He’s using his time this way, and I don’t understand what the problem is, and I wish the Oscars and all awards shows would lean into it a little bit. These are tumultuous times, and we are in a pool that we say controversial things all the time. It’s not so bad, life does go on, and it’s OK for people to speak their truth when they get an award.”
Twitter observers were also quick to react to Trump’s message.
When you feel attacked by someone suggesting we choose “love over hate”, that speaks volumes about you. #DoTheRightThing
— SBR (@scoutfinch) February 25, 2019
Do the right thing should be a quote you start to live by too.
— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) February 25, 2019
Be Nice if the President would focus more on governing and less on crying about award shows!
— Ryan Hill (@RyanHillMI) February 25, 2019
He simply urged us to choose between love and hate. You weren’t mentioned at all. And yes, it’s glaringly obvious which you prefer.
— Steve Blum (@blumspew) February 25, 2019
Others supported the president and suggested that awards shows should stick to handing out awards.
Spike Lee is a waste of oxygen!!! Trump 2020…#MAGA
— Piper (@Piper62972337) February 25, 2019
The bizarre noted racist #SpikeLeeSpeech. Read from notes at arm length. Living in the past benefits only the race hustlers like #SpikeLee seeking to stoke race tensions for personal gain $$$$. pic.twitter.com/adQe8II1iD
— Tyler’s Real News (@AtlantaNews360) February 25, 2019
Exactly. The #Oscars2019 are a racist disgrace.
— Peter Dickerson (@Peter_Dickerson) February 25, 2019
Whatever happened to thanking God, family, cast members, production team and walking off satisfied of your achievement? https://t.co/9r2fxy3uch
— Wayne Dupree | (@WayneDupreeShow) February 25, 2019
Check out what attendees on the red carpet had to say about whether or not politics belong at the Oscars:
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