And to think President Trump was nice and welcoming.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani stirred fresh outrage this weekend after repeating the claim that President Donald Trump is a “fascist”—even after the President treated him with remarkable patience and respect during a widely watched White House meeting.
During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, told host Kristen Welker that he stands by his harsh rhetoric.
“That’s something I’ve said before, and I say it again today,” he insisted.
The exchange drew attention because it echoed a tense moment from Friday’s Oval Office media spray. Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich had asked Mamdani if he still believed Trump was a “fascist.” Mamdani began to answer, but President Trump stepped in with calm, almost fatherly reassurance.
“That’s OK,” Trump said as he lightly patted Mamdani’s arm. “You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”
Despite Trump’s gracious response, Mamdani continued doubling down during his Sunday interview. When Welker pressed him on whether he still considers the President a “threat to democracy” or even a “despot,” Mamdani refused to back down.
“Everything I’ve said in the past, I still believe,” he replied.
He attempted to soften the tone by saying he “appreciated” the meeting and valued honest conversations about New York’s affordability crisis, housing concerns, and basic quality-of-life issues. But his comments came across to many viewers as dismissive of the President’s good-faith outreach.
President Trump had welcomed Mamdani to the White House on Friday following the mayor-elect’s decisive victory in the New York City mayoral race. The discussion centered on affordability, soaring housing costs, and restoring public safety—top concerns for millions of older Americans and longtime New York residents.
On crime and policing, Mamdani said he intends to keep the NYPD force level near 35,000 officers but wants to redirect many non-emergency calls to mental-health responders instead of police. This shift, repeated again Sunday, has drawn scrutiny from New Yorkers who want stronger law enforcement and safer streets—not more experiments with progressive policies.
For many Americans, especially those over 50 who have watched decades of political change, the moment captured a familiar contrast: President Trump extends respect, leadership, and a willingness to work together—while his critics respond with hostility, labels, and ideological attacks.
In the end, the meeting showed one thing clearly: Trump offered cooperation; Mamdani offered contempt. And voters will remember which leader showed character.
