Zohran Mamdani Stands by Calling Trump a ‘Fascist’ After Friendly Meet

Zohran Mamdani‘s thoughts on Donald Trump haven’t changed since their meeting in the Oval Office.

The 34-year-old mayor-elect for New York City met with Trump, 79, at the White House on Friday, Nov. 21.

Despite the fact that Mamdani has gone as far as to label the president a “fascist” and a “despot,” the politician referred to the meeting as “a productive one.”

During a press conference, Trump — who has spoken harshly about Mamdani and threatened to minimize the flow of federal funding to N.Y.C. — told Mamdani that it was okay for him to continue saying that he believed those things.

Trump’s remark came after Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, was asked if he still stood by calling the president a “fascist.”

“It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining it,” Trump said at the time.

On Meet the Press on Sunday, Nov. 23, Mamdani reflected on this moment and reiterated that his thoughts had not changed since the seemingly positive interaction.

“That’s something I’ve said in the past and I say today,” he explained. “I think what I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement, about the politics that has brought us to this moment. And we also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordability crisis for New Yorkers.”

“Everything that I’ve said in the past [about Trump], I continue to believe,” Mamdani added, before stating how essential it is to remain civil while having political disagreements.

“That’s the thing that I continue to think is important in our politics, is that we don’t shy away from where we have disagreements, but we understand what it is that brings us to that table. Because I’m not coming into the Oval Office to make a point or make a stand. I’m coming in there to deliver for New Yorkers,” he said.

Mamdani even revealed that he showed a willingness to speak to those who disagreed with him while campaigning, an anecdote that he also spoke to Trump about.

“I shared with the president that when I asked those New Yorkers why did they vote for the president, they told me again and again, it was cost of living, cost of living, cost of living,” he said. “And when the president and I were speaking, we were speaking about what is preventing from delivering on that affordability agenda.”

Mamdani added that going into the meeting, he was focused on speaking “about the needs of the 8.5 million people who call the same city we love home.”

“I thought again and again about what it would mean for New Yorkers if we could establish a productive relationship that would focus on the issues that those New Yorkers stay up late at night thinking about,” he shared.

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After winning the mayoral race in N.Y.C. on Nov. 4, Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim mayor-elect.

He turned his attention to Trump while delivering a victory speech, saying, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

Trump was born in Queens, one of the city’s five boroughs, making him a native New Yorker.

“So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.

During the press conference after their meeting, Trump showed support for Mamdani and said he would even consider living in N.Y.C. again under his leadership.

“Yeah, I would. I really would,” he said, adding, “Especially after the meeting. We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.”