NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani Calls Trump a Fascist Despite White House Meeting
Socialist winner refuses to retract after Oval Office smiles.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s incoming democratic socialist Mayor, reaffirmed on Sunday that he continues to view President Donald Trump as a fascist and a threat to democracy, despite a cordial White House meeting between the two ideological opposites just two days earlier.
The Friday encounter, marked by handshakes and mutual praise in front of cameras, had briefly suggested a thaw in relations after months of vitriol. Trump had previously branded Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” on social media, while Mamdani had repeatedly accused the president of despotic and fascist tendencies. Yet both men emerged from the Oval Office emphasizing potential cooperation on issues affecting New Yorkers.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview taped Saturday, Mamdani showed no willingness to moderate his prior statements when pressed. “Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe,” he declared, insisting that substantive disagreements must not be papered over for the sake of appearances while adding that his presence in Washington was solely to secure benefits for his city.
Also Read: Mamdani Heads to Oval Office: Ready to Ally or Defy Trump
During Friday’s post-meeting press availability, Trump himself had interrupted a reporter’s question about the fascism charge, jokingly urging Mamdani to simply “say yes” rather than elaborate. The light-hearted exchange contrasted sharply with Mamdani’s subsequent confirmation on national television that he indeed still considers the label accurate.
White House officials sought to downplay ideological divisions, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett stressing on CNN that President Trump remains eager to collaborate with leaders across the political spectrum who share the goal of improving American lives. The meeting, centered on affordability and federal assistance to New York, offered both figures a platform to project pragmatism amid intense partisan polarization.
Also Read: “Communist Mayor Asked For It”: Trump Confirms Oval Office Talks With Zohran Mamdani
