NYC Mayor-Elect Stands Firm on Past Criticism While Committing to Working Relationship for City’s Benefit
Democratic Socialist Holds Ground on Political Views
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his characterization of President Donald Trump as a fascist and threat to democracy during a Sunday interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” just two days after what observers described as a surprisingly cordial White House meeting between the two leaders. The 34-year-old Democratic socialist, who will become New York’s first Muslim mayor when he takes office January 1, 2026, demonstrated a delicate balance between maintaining his political principles and expressing willingness to work with the Trump administration on behalf of New Yorkers. When asked directly whether he still believes Trump is a fascist, Mamdani responded without hesitation. “That’s something that I’ve said in the past, I say it today,” he told host Kristen Welker. “Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe.” This stance comes despite Friday’s White House meeting, which concluded with both men speaking positively about shared goals and finding common ground on issues like affordability and public safety.
The Context of ‘Fascist’ as Political Term
The term fascism has specific historical and political meanings. According to scholars at the Encyclopedia Britannica, fascism is characterized by extreme militant nationalism, hatred of communism and socialism, contempt for democracy, and belief in natural social hierarchy and rule by elites. The Council on Foreign Relations defines it as a mass political movement emphasizing extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of the nation over the individual, standing in contrast to liberal democracies that support individual rights, competitive elections, and political dissent. During the Friday White House encounter, when a reporter posed the question about Mamdani’s views on fascism, Trump himself interjected before the mayor-elect could respond. “That’s OK. You can just say yes. OK? It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind,” the president said, patting Mamdani’s arm as the incoming mayor smiled and confirmed, “Yes.”
Historic Election Victory Precedes Washington Visit
Mamdani’s visit to the Oval Office came three weeks after his historic November 4 election victory, in which he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The election drew more than two million votes, the highest turnout for a New York City mayoral race since 1969, according to NBC News. The Queens assemblyman will become not only the city’s first Muslim mayor but also its youngest in more than a century and the first of South Asian descent. His campaign focused heavily on addressing New York’s affordability crisis, with promises to freeze stabilized rents, provide universal childcare, make buses fare-free, and raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations. Throughout the campaign, Mamdani and Trump exchanged harsh criticism. The president called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” on social media and suggested he should be arrested if he refused to comply with federal immigration enforcement. Trump also described Mamdani as “not very smart” and said he “looks TERRIBLE” with a “grating” voice. Mamdani, for his part, labeled Trump a “despot” in his victory speech and vowed to “Trump-proof” New York City.
Pragmatism Meets Principle
Despite these past hostilities, the Friday White House meeting yielded surprising results. Both leaders emphasized areas of agreement, particularly regarding affordability issues affecting New Yorkers. Trump praised Mamdani’s election victory and said he would help rather than hurt the incoming mayor. “I expect to be helping him, not hurting him — a big help,” Trump stated. “We have a lot more in common than I would have thought.” Mamdani explained his pragmatic approach in the NBC interview. “I think what I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement, about the politics that has brought us to this moment,” he said. “I’m not coming into the Oval Office to make a point or make a stand. I’m coming in there to deliver for New Yorkers.” This position reflects a careful political calculation. Mamdani must navigate relationships with federal, state, and city officials who may not share his progressive ideology while advancing an ambitious agenda that includes significant tax increases requiring approval from Governor Kathy Hochul.
Questions About Federal Troops and Public Safety
During the interview, Welker pressed Mamdani on whether Trump had assured him that federal troops would not be deployed to New York City, an issue that became contentious during the campaign when Trump threatened to send the National Guard. Mamdani declined to provide specifics, saying only that Trump “cared deeply about public safety.” The mayor-elect emphasized his confidence in the New York Police Department and his decision to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom he credited with reducing crime across all five boroughs. “Public safety is the cornerstone of an affordability agenda,” Mamdani said, framing security issues within his broader economic message. Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Trump wants to work with everyone who cares about the future of American people. “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.
National Implications
The dynamic between Mamdani and Trump carries significance beyond New York City. As reported by ABC News, the meeting offered potential political benefits for both men. Mamdani gained direct access to the president to advocate for his city, while Trump demonstrated willingness to work across ideological divides on issues like affordability that resonate with voters. The relationship may serve as a test case for how progressive Democratic leaders navigate the Trump administration. Mamdani’s approach, maintaining strong ideological positions while seeking practical cooperation, differs from strategies employed by other Democratic mayors and governors. For New Yorkers, the question remains whether this unusual political pairing can deliver tangible results. Mamdani campaigned on ambitious promises to address housing costs, childcare expenses, and income inequality. Achieving these goals may require not just state approval but federal cooperation on funding and policy matters. The coming months will reveal whether Mamdani’s dual approach of maintaining principles while pursuing pragmatic partnerships can produce the “relentless improvement” he promised voters, or whether the fundamental differences between his democratic socialist vision and Trump’s agenda will prove insurmountable.
