President Trump jokes it’s OK for Zohran Mamdani to call him a ‘fascist’: ‘You can just say yes’
TOI GLOBAL | Nov 22, 2025, 18:38 IST
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s first meeting with President Donald Trump surprised observers by avoiding the ideological conflict many expected. Despite their history of sharp political disagreements, the Oval Office discussion remained cordial and focused on practical issues such as rising rents, affordability concerns, and the financial strain on working-class New Yorkers. A lighthearted exchange over Mamdani’s previous comments about Trump further softened the tone, while Trump publicly defended Mamdani against hostile questioning from reporters. The meeting signaled an unexpected willingness from both sides to pursue cooperation, even while maintaining their political differences.
The meeting of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani with President Donald Trump has instantly become one of the most discussed political moments of the week. People expected tension, arguments, maybe even a dramatic clash, because the two men stand on opposite poles of the political spectrum. Mamdani is a democratic socialist who, for years, has attacked Trump on all issues and whom Trump once ridiculed publicly. However, the atmosphere was unexpectedly calm, polite, and almost warm when cameras started rolling in the Oval Office.
The focus of the meeting, actually, was heavy on affordability issues in New York: rising rents, pressure from the cost of living, and how people of the working class is getting crushed by inflation. Mamdani made clear he wasn't going to the White House to fight for ideology but to fight for tangible results for New Yorkers. He even said he wasn't worried about being "trapped" politically because his priority is the people who elected him. This imbued the meeting with a practical, problem-solving tone rather than a combative one.
The headline-grabbing moment came when one reporter asked Mamdani if he still believed Donald Trump is a "fascist," words Mamdani has uttered in the past. For his part, instead of getting angry, Trump actually jumped in before Mamdani could respond. Smiling, Trump told him, "You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind." Mamdani laughed and simply said, "Yes." The whole interaction felt oddly lighthearted, given how explosive that word has traditionally been in American politics.
What might have made that moment even more unexpected was how, in other parts of the conversation, Trump defended Mamdani. When a reporter tried to describe Mamdani as a "jihadist," Trump brushed it off and called him "a very rational person." He remarked that although he and Mamdani don't see eye to eye, he really wants to make him succeed because he thinks they do share some common ground. For a president known for heated language, the softer tone was jarring.
At the same time, Mamdani managed to stay true to his political identity. He didn't retreat from his criticism of Trump; neither did he allow ideology to shadow the main purpose of the meeting. What his approach suggested was some sort of balance: holding on to his principles while still trying to work across the aisle to solve problems. For some, this may be an example of maturity and statesmanship; for others, a perilous balancing act likely to anger those on both sides of the political divide.
Overall, the incident became a symbol of how unusual today's politics can be: a socialist mayor-elect and a right-wing president sharing jokes, agreeing on affordability issues, and trying to present a united front for the sake of New Yorkers. Whether it is a turning point or just a momentary political surprise, for now, it is not yet clear, but it really showed sides of both those leaders that people weren't expecting.
The focus of the meeting, actually, was heavy on affordability issues in New York: rising rents, pressure from the cost of living, and how people of the working class is getting crushed by inflation. Mamdani made clear he wasn't going to the White House to fight for ideology but to fight for tangible results for New Yorkers. He even said he wasn't worried about being "trapped" politically because his priority is the people who elected him. This imbued the meeting with a practical, problem-solving tone rather than a combative one.
The headline-grabbing moment came when one reporter asked Mamdani if he still believed Donald Trump is a "fascist," words Mamdani has uttered in the past. For his part, instead of getting angry, Trump actually jumped in before Mamdani could respond. Smiling, Trump told him, "You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind." Mamdani laughed and simply said, "Yes." The whole interaction felt oddly lighthearted, given how explosive that word has traditionally been in American politics.
What might have made that moment even more unexpected was how, in other parts of the conversation, Trump defended Mamdani. When a reporter tried to describe Mamdani as a "jihadist," Trump brushed it off and called him "a very rational person." He remarked that although he and Mamdani don't see eye to eye, he really wants to make him succeed because he thinks they do share some common ground. For a president known for heated language, the softer tone was jarring.
At the same time, Mamdani managed to stay true to his political identity. He didn't retreat from his criticism of Trump; neither did he allow ideology to shadow the main purpose of the meeting. What his approach suggested was some sort of balance: holding on to his principles while still trying to work across the aisle to solve problems. For some, this may be an example of maturity and statesmanship; for others, a perilous balancing act likely to anger those on both sides of the political divide.
Overall, the incident became a symbol of how unusual today's politics can be: a socialist mayor-elect and a right-wing president sharing jokes, agreeing on affordability issues, and trying to present a united front for the sake of New Yorkers. Whether it is a turning point or just a momentary political surprise, for now, it is not yet clear, but it really showed sides of both those leaders that people weren't expecting.