New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his belief that US President Donald Trump is a fascist, even after a surprisingly cordial meeting between the two politically opposed figures at the White House earlier this week.

“That’s something that I’ve said in the past; I say it today,” Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, told NBC News on Sunday, reaffirming his long-held views about the Republican president.

The White House Meeting

The meeting took place two days after Mamdani’s election victory and marked a temporary thaw in months of mutual recriminations. During the discussion, both leaders promised to cooperate on the future of New York City, despite their stark ideological differences.

Trump, who grew up in New York, had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” on social media after the election, and Mamdani had accused the president of undermining democracy. During the meeting, Trump even intervened as Mamdani addressed reporters.

“That’s OK. You can just say it. That’s easier,” Trump told Mamdani when asked if he continued to view the president as a fascist. “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Mamdani’s Perspective

In his NBC interview, Mamdani highlighted the substantive aspects of the discussion, saying the conversation was not shy about their disagreements. He emphasized that they addressed issues central to his mayoral campaign:

• Cost of housing
• Childcare expenses
• Groceries and utilities

“I found the meeting that I had with the president a productive one and a meeting that came back again and again to the central themes of the campaign that we ran,” Mamdani said.

Trump Praises Mamdani Despite Past Tensions

Despite previously threatening to cut federal funding to New York City and suggesting the deployment of the US National Guard, Trump praised Mamdani’s historic election win.

“We’ve just had a great … very productive meeting. We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” Trump said. “We are going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true: having a strong and very safe New York.”

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CNN that while disagreements remain on policy, Trump aims to collaborate with anyone who cares about improving the lives of Americans.

“We’re at times disagreeing about policies, but I think that the objective of making life better for everybody is something that a lot of people share on the Democratic and Republican side,” Hassett said.

Historical Significance

Zohran Mamdani’s election is historic: he is one of the few democratic socialist mayors to lead New York City. His willingness to maintain dialogue with Trump demonstrates a pragmatic approach to governance while preserving his ideological stance.

The meeting also signals the potential for bipartisan cooperation in addressing urgent urban challenges, even amid heated political rhetoric.