New York City Mayor-Elect Defies Trump Criticism Post-Meeting

Sun Nov 23 2025 21:22:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, stands firm on his previous criticisms of Donald Trump, describing him as a despot and fascist despite a recent cordial meeting at the White House.

During a recent interview, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his past characterizations of President Donald Trump as a fascist. This defiance comes after a surprisingly amicable meeting between the two political adversaries at the White House, where they discussed common goals. While both have previously exchanged harsh criticisms, they emerged from the meeting with smiles and an attempt to focus on collaborative issues.

WASHINGTON (RTW) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani remained unyielding in a televised interview aired on Sunday, reiterating his past assertions that President Donald Trump resembles a despot and a fascist, following their unexpectedly cordial meeting at the White House.

The democratic socialist and the Republican president have engaged in a bitter war of words in the past. Trump labeled Mamdani a 100% Communist Lunatic in a social media post after the mayor-elect's election win, while Mamdani accused Trump of undermining democracy. Nevertheless, following their recent meeting, both appeared amicable and spoke of mutual aspirations.

When pressed about his previous remarks during a Meet the Press interview, conducted Saturday, Mamdani maintained his stance.

“Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe,” Mamdani noted. “In our politics, we must not shy away from our disagreements, but we should recognize what brings us to the table. I am there to serve New Yorkers, not to make a political stance.”

During the meeting, Trump downplayed Mamdani’s past comments and, on several occasions, interjected to defend him when a reporter questioned whether Mamdani still regarded Trump as a fascist.

“That’s OK. You can just say yes. OK?” Trump said, suggesting that a simple agreement would be easier than a complex explanation.

Mamdani reiterated, That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today.

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, emphasized on CNN that while policy disagreements exist, both sides ultimately share an objective of improving the quality of life for Americans. The meeting served potential benefits for both men: Mamdani gained direct access to the president, while Trump had the opportunity to discuss affordability, a growing concern among voters.