New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reiterated that he still considers US President Donald Trump a “fascist” and a “despot,” despite the unexpectedly cordial meeting the two shared at the White House last week.
Mamdani made the remarks during an interview aired on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
‘Everything I’ve said, I continue to believe’
When asked whether he still viewed Trump as a threat to democracy, Mamdani did not waver. “Everything that I’ve said in the past I continue to believe,” he said, stressing the importance of openly acknowledging political disagreements.
The remarks come just days after the mayor-elect and Trump met in what was expected to be a confrontational encounter due to months of bitter rhetoric. Instead, the meeting surprised many by producing good-natured exchanges and common ground on several issues.
Trump, Mamdani’s unexpected rapport
During their White House meeting, Trump praised Mamdani’s election win and expressed confidence in his ability to govern New York. “I feel very confident that he can do a good job,” Trump said, adding he believed Mamdani might “surprise some conservative people.”
Both leaders agreed to collaborate on housing, food prices, and the rising cost of living, finding shared concerns despite their ideological differences. Trump even intervened to shield Mamdani from pointed questions during the press briefing, telling him, “That’s OK. You can just say it,” when a reporter asked whether he still viewed Trump as a fascist.
Mamdani later said he appreciated the president’s willingness to discuss areas of disagreement openly, while still focusing on how to advance the city’s priorities.
Background: Months of political hostility
The warmer tone was notable given the heated exchanges between the two men in recent months. Trump had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and even suggested the Ugandan-born mayor-elect should be deported. Mamdani, in turn, frequently referred to Trump as a threat to democracy.
In his November 4 victory speech, Mamdani said New York could be a “light in a moment of political darkness,” telling Trump: “If there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
Focus on shared priorities
In his NBC interview, Mamdani said the White House meeting repeatedly returned to the core themes of his campaign: the cost of housing, childcare, groceries, and utilities. He described the conversation as productive and centred around how both sides could deliver tangible results.
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, echoed the sentiment on CNN’s State of the Union, saying Trump wants to work with “everybody who cares about the future of the American people.”
Decision to retain Police Commissioner Tisch
Mamdani also defended his decision to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, appointed by former Mayor Eric Adams. He said Tisch had helped reduce crime across all five boroughs while confronting corruption at the top levels of the NYPD during the previous administration.
Tisch acknowledged in an email to officers that she and Mamdani “don’t agree on everything,” highlighting differences over police staffing levels. She supports hiring 5,000 additional officers, while Mamdani wants to maintain current headcount.
Despite lingering differences, both Trump and Mamdani publicly emphasized their commitment to New York’s future. “We want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” Trump said, adding that the administration would help Mamdani make “everybody’s dream come true: having a strong and very safe New York.”
Whether this cooperation can endure amid stark ideological divides remains to be seen, but their unexpected show of unity has drawn national attention.
