Spike Lee has compared Donald Trump to Hitler during his acceptance speech at the New York Film Critics Circle.
The filmmaker was given a special award for his short New York New York, which was filmed during the pandemic, and it was presented to him by fellow filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
Lee went on to slam the former president in his pre-recorded acceptance speech, which was filmed on January 6 - the day of the Capitol riots.
"It's a very sad day in the history of America," said Lee of the incident which led to Trump's second impeachment.
"We're at the crossroads now…and everybody please be safe. This is not a game… This president Agent Orange will go down in history with the likes of Hitler," he continued before adding that those who have stood by the former president are "on the wrong side of history."
As Lee expressed his gratitude to the New York Film Critics Circle, he explained that his work was never just entirely his own creation and took the opportunity to thank those who have worked with him behind and in front of the camera since his time at NYU film school.
However, he ultimately returned to his original point and said: "All of us, as true Americans, have to really think about what's important."
Lee's words come after Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump, said that her uncle "enjoyed every second" of the Capitol riots.
Per The Huffington Post, Mary, who has been an outspoken critic of the former president, stated:
"He enjoyed every second of it. He is a physical coward but he’s perfectly happy when other people commit violence on his behalf.
"Secondly, again, he really thought that that was a way to change the results of the legitimate election."
The former president's niece also told MSNBC back in November that her uncle's state of mind was "desperate" and "flailing," after Joe Biden's then-projected victory in the 2020 presidential election.
The full NYFCC virtual awards ceremony is available to watch here.