New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said on Sunday that despite meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House, he still stands by his past comments calling Trump a “fascist.” Mamdani emphasized that his views on the president have not changed, even though their first in-person meeting went unexpectedly smoothly.
Mamdani and Trump held their first face-to-face conversation on Friday. Though the discussion was described as cordial and focused on policy issues, the mayor-elect made it clear that he would not retract any of his sharp criticisms from the election campaign.
Trump is a ‘fascist’ and ‘dictator,’ says Mamdani
Speaking to the media, Mamdani reiterated his stance, saying he continues to believe that President Trump is a “fascist” and a “dictator.” The election campaign between the two sides featured intense personal attacks, but the White House interaction was surprisingly warm. Trump even told reporters he wanted to support the incoming mayor.
Still, Mamdani stressed that honesty in political disagreements is essential:
“I still believe everything I’ve said in the past,” he noted. “It’s important in politics to speak openly about our differences while still being able to work together. I’m not coming to the Oval Office to posture—I’m coming to work for New Yorkers.”
A light exchange between Trump and Mamdani
During their meeting, when Trump was asked how he felt about being called a fascist, he jokingly told Mamdani, “Just say it.”
Mamdani responded, “I’ve already said that,” after which Trump smiled and replied, “No problem, you can just say yes,” lightly patting him on the arm.
Mamdani said many New Yorkers, including Trump supporters in the Bronx and Queens, told him during the campaign that rising living costs were their top concern—an issue he raised with the president.
National Guard concerns discussed
Mamdani also spoke with Trump about his earlier threats to deploy the National Guard in New York City. He did not confirm whether Trump ruled out the possibility but said he assured the president that the NYPD was fully capable of maintaining public safety. Trump later said he would use troops only if required and described the meeting as positive.
Trump’s past attacks on Mamdani
Before the election, Trump repeatedly criticized Mamdani online, branding him a “communist lunatic” and threatening to cut federal funding if he became mayor. Trump also endorsed Mamdani’s opponent, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
