Trump Sings Mamdani’s Praises; Says NYC Mayor-Elect Can Call Him A Fascist
A surprising interaction from the Oval Office is making headlines Friday evening, after President Trump publicly shifted his tone on New York City’s incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Trump said he’s “very confident” Mamdani can do “a very good job,” predicting the 34-year-old democratic socialist could “surprise some conservative people.”
The president even told reporters that even though Mamdani has views that are “way out there,” he would “absolutely” feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration — especially after their White House meeting. The meeting captured the fascinating dynamic as the two try to reset their relationship after months of vicious attacks. Week ago Trump called Mamdani a “Communist” and a threat to NYC’s future.
MAKING HEADLINES:
Trump said the two “agree on a lot more than I would have thought” and pledged to “help him do a great job.” The change in tone comes after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani was elected — backing his opponent former Democratic NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Trump even compared their unexpected overlap to his past alignment with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on trade.
He also brushed aside attacks from his allies, including the claim by NY GOP Gubernatorial Candidate, Rep. Elise Stefanik, that Mamdani is a “jihadist,” saying, “No, I don’t,” and calling the mayor-elect “a very rational person” who “wants to see New York be great again.”
Call me a fascist, kid: Asked if he still stands by calling Trump a “fascist,” Mamdani struggled to answer, but Trump jumped in: “That’s OK. You can just say it. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind — I’ve been called much worse.”
Bottom line: Trump sees Mamdani as an impressive, young, charismatic outsider who focused on affordability and pulled off a remarkable win. We have talked about how the two men share certain characteristics as populists. Trump is giving him a chance, especially as Mamdani has portrayed himself as a pragmatist since winning the election. That said, this peace could be short-lived: each has signaled they’ll cooperate on affordability but won’t hesitate to go back on the offensive when necessary.