Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani still calls Trump fascist despite productive White House meeting focused on housing, childcare and city funding
NEW YORK: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani maintains his view that President Donald Trump is a fascist despite their recent cordial White House meeting.
“That’s something that I’ve said in the past, I say it today,” the incoming leftist mayor told NBC News on Sunday.
The self-described Democratic Socialist met the Republican leader on Friday, setting aside months of mutual recriminations to discuss cooperation.
Trump, who previously suggested the Ugandan-born New Yorker should be deported, even defended Mamdani during their joint press appearance.
When a journalist asked if Mamdani still viewed Trump as a fascist, the president intervened.
“That’s OK. You can just say it. That’s easier,” Trump told Mamdani. “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”
Mamdani described their conversation as productive despite political disagreements.
“I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement,” he said.
The meeting repeatedly returned to core campaign issues like housing costs, childcare expenses, and utility bills.
Trump praised Mamdani’s historic election victory and promised federal support for New York City.
“We’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true: having a strong and very safe New York,” the president said.
This cooperation follows Trump’s earlier threats to cut federal funding and deploy the National Guard to the city. – AFP
