Donald Trump meets NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, calls him rational, dismisses jihadist claims, accepts fascist label. Photo: X.
Donald Trump-Zohran Mamdani: President Donald Trump met with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House, addressing claims circulating within his party and offering cautious praise for the incoming mayor. During the meeting, Trump was asked about Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s repeated characterization of Mamdani as a “jihadist” during his campaign. Stefanik, who is also running for New York governor next year, has been a vocal critic of Mamdani.
When asked whether he believed Mamdani to be a jihadist, Trump dismissed the claim as political rhetoric. “She’s out there campaigning, and you say things sometimes in a campaign,” he said.
Trump, who had Mamdani standing beside him in the Oval Office, described the mayor-elect as “a very rational person” and said he “really wants to see New York be great again.”
He also praised Mamdani’s campaign, noting his ability to win “easily,” and wished him success in leading the city. “He’s different than your typical guy,” Trump added. “He has a chance to really do something great for New York.”
Also Read: ‘Productive’: What Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani Said After Meeting At White House
In a striking moment during the meeting, Trump said it was “okay” for Mamdani to refer to him as a fascist, a label the mayor-elect has publicly used.
When a reporter asked Mamdani whether he still considers Trump a fascist, the mayor-elect began to respond, saying, “I’ve spoken about it…,” before Trump interjected:
“That’s okay,” the president said with a smile. “He can just say that.”
The remark came after Mamdani’s victory speech in which he pledged “to reject Donald Trump’s fascism,” a stance he has reiterated in interviews since his electoral win.
Despite political differences, Trump expressed confidence in a productive relationship with Mamdani.
Also Read: Donald Trump Says It’s ‘Okay’ For Zohran Mamdani To Call Him a ‘Fascist’
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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