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It’s no secret that famed film director Spike Lee loves him some Bernie Sanders.

And the most recent issue of the Hollywood Reporter  only illuminates that love and both men’s love for Brooklyn, NY, the borough where both were raised.

Weeks before the New York state primary, the Oscar winner and the Vermont Senator and Dem presidential candidate sat down to talk about a range of issues including race, his fight for the White House and of course, Donald Trump.

What Black Lives Matters to him:

“What it means is that we are all sick and tired of seeing unarmed people shot by police officers. That young people in African-American communities are harassed by police officers, where police departments are not there to be supportive but are in many cases oppressive, and that’s an issue that has to be addressed.”

On struggling with the older Black, Latino and white vote:

“What really bothers me is I spent half my life in Congress helping to lead the effort for senior citizens… so we have a lot of work to do in terms of reaching out to seniors, not just African-Americans, but seniors all across the board. We’re figuring out how you get the message out there.” 

On his relationship with President Obama: 

He came to Vermont to campaign for me way back in 2006. I worked on his elections in 2008 and 2012 and just was in the Oval Office a couple of months ago. So we have a very positive and, I think, friendly relationship. Is he closer to Hillary Clinton? I suspect. She was his secretary of state for four years.

On Trump’ divisive shenanigans:

He is an entertainer by and large. He did very well on television; he knows the media very, very well. Don’t underestimate him. And God knows who he is really, but we see what he personifies on TV every night. He knows how to manipulate the media very effectively, he knows how to do what he does with people. But let me just reassure you: Donald Trump is not going to become president of the United States. That I can say.

Read the THR interview in it’s entirely here.

And while you’re at it, peep this new mini Spike Lee joint featuring Harry Belafonte, Erica Garner, Shaun King and Linda Sarsour show their support for Sanders. 

RELATED LINKS: 

Sigh…Bill Clinton Apologizes For Black Lives Matter Spat, Well Sort Of

#BoyBye: Bill Clinton Tells BLM Protestors They’re ‘Defending The People Who Killed The Lives You Say Matter’

#FeelTheBern: Rosario Dawson, Spike Lee And Other Black Celebs Stump In New York For Sanders

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.