After warm White House meet, Mamdani still labels Trump a ‘fascist’

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo-Evan Vucci)_11zon

Washington, Nov 24 (AP/UNB) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said he stands by his earlier remarks accusing President Donald Trump of behaving like a despot and a fascist, despite the two appearing unusually cordial after a White House meeting on Friday.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, and the Republican president have long been political adversaries. Trump recently labeled the incoming mayor a “100% Communist Lunatic” on social media after his election win, while Mamdani has repeatedly warned that Trump threatens democratic norms. Still, both emerged from their meeting smiling and highlighting areas where they could work together.

Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview aired Sunday whether he still believed his past criticism, Mamdani said nothing had changed. “Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe,” he said. “We shouldn’t shy away from disagreements, but we also have to focus on why we sit at the table. I’m in the Oval Office to deliver for New Yorkers, not to make a point.”

Trump, for his part, had brushed off Mamdani’s criticisms during their meeting and even stepped in to ease a tense moment. When a reporter asked Mamdani if he still thought Trump was a fascist, the president answered first, saying, “That’s OK. You can just say yes. OK? It’s easier. I don’t mind.”

Pressed again on the program about whether he still supported the label, Mamdani replied, “That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today.”

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Trump wants to work with “everybody who cares about the future of the American people.” He acknowledged policy differences but said improving lives is a shared goal across both parties.

Despite their political distance, analysts said the meeting carried potential benefits for both men. Mamdani gained valuable one-on-one time with the president ahead of taking office, while Trump used the moment to highlight his focus on affordability — an issue increasingly central to voters.