New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has doubled down on his long-held belief that President Donald Trump is a “fascist” and a “despot,” even after the two held an unexpectedly cordial meeting at the White House just days earlier. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Mamdani made clear that the friendly tone of their Oval Office visit had not altered his view of Trump or his concerns about the state of American democracy. He emphasized that political cooperation does not require abandoning honest disagreements.
Zohran Mamdani stands by calling Trump a “fascist” and a “despot.” But here’s why the New York City mayor-elect thinks they can still work together. https://t.co/6foMrxoyHi
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 23, 2025
Their meeting, highly anticipated due to months of heated rhetoric between the two, turned out to be surprisingly warm. Trump even praised Mamdani, saying he believed the mayor-elect could “do a good job,” and the two agreed to collaborate on addressing rising housing costs, food prices, and broader cost-of-living challenges. Mamdani later described the meeting as productive, saying they focused both on areas of disagreement and the shared goal of easing economic pressure on New Yorkers.
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Mamdani also confirmed he will keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom he credited with lowering crime and tackling corruption. The White House welcomed this decision, calling it a reassuring sign despite ideological differences.
