Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Woody Allen Says Trump Was ‘Pleasure To Work With’ And ‘Very Good Actor’

Screenshot/YouTube/Club Random Podcast

Filmmaker Woody Allen on “Club Random with Bill Maher” Monday praised President Donald Trump’s professionalism and acting skills, based on his experience directing him.

Allen, who has faced sexual misconduct allegations, directed Trump in his 1998 movie “Celebrity.” The filmmaker noted on the podcast that he was a Democrat politically opposed to Trump, but had no complaints about working with the president.

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“He was a pleasure to work with and a very good actor,” Allen told host Bill Maher. “He was very polite and hit his mark and did everything correctly and had a real flair for show business.”

Maher quipped that Allen would be even more “canceled” than he was previously after commending the president.

“I only wish I could direct him now. If he would let me direct him now that he’s president, I think I could do wonders,” Allen added, prompting Maher to laugh raucously. “But he was very easy to work with.”

“He’s different in person. And when you say that, people who are just purely emotional get very upset, even though it’s just the truth,” Maher responded. “We’re just saying the truth.”

Maher received left-wing backlash for attending a March dinner at the White House with Trump, after which he described the president as a “possible friend” and said he felt “comfortable” speaking to him.

“I am a Democrat. I voted for [former Vice President] Kamala Harris. And I take issue with him on 95% of the things, maybe 99%. But as an actor, he was very good,” Allen said. “He was very convincing and he had a charismatic quality as an actor. And I’m surprised he wanted to go into politics.”

“Politics is nothing but headaches and critical decisions and agony. And this was a guy I used to see at the Knick games. And he liked to play golf and he liked to judge beauty contests and he liked to do things that were enjoyable and relaxing,” he continued. “And why anyone would want to suddenly have to deal with the issues of politics is beyond me. But apparently he doesn’t mind.”

Maher also said on a July episode of his podcast that the criticism of his dinner with Trump perfectly illustrated what he viewed as the left’s most self-defeating tendency.

“The stupidest thing the left does — and this dinner is a perfect example of it — is having this attitude toward the right that: ‘We won’t even break bread with you. We are so far above you that we won’t even sit down at the same table with you!’ That is their attitude — and that makes me sick too!” he said.