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Previous Page Next PageZohran Mamdani met Donald Trump in the White House this evening after winning New York’s mayoral election earlier this month.
But the meeting took an unexpected turn when the US president, who previously described Mamdani as a ‘communist’, told him ‘it’s OK’ to call him a ‘fascist’.
When a reporter asked Mamdani whether he stands by his previous remark that Donald is a fascist, New York’s mayor-elect replied ‘I’ve spoken about…’ before Trump jumped in, saying: ‘That’s ok, you can just say it.’
He added that ‘it’s easier than explaining it, I don’t mind’, before patting him on the shoulder as they both smiled.
Before the meeting Mamdani said he wanted to work with Trump – despite their political differences and previous comments about each other.
Zohran Mamdani, New York’s mayor-elect, and US president Donald Trump met in the White House for a friendly meeting
New York’s mayor-elect said: ‘I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers.
‘If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say something.’
And despite Trump previously calling him a communist, Mamdani describes himself as a democratic socialist.
During the meeting the president said they agree on ‘a lot more than I would have thought’.
He also congratulated Mamdani on winning the New York mayoral race, adding that he thinks he will do a ‘great job’.
Trump said Mamdani will do a ‘great job’ as New York mayor (Picture: Yuri Gripas/UPI/Shutterstock)
Mamdani described the occasion as a ‘great meeting’.
Despite their past comments, it appeared the pair had made up, with Trump also saying that while Mamdani’s views were a ‘little out there’, he could ‘surprise some conservative people’.
Trump said: ‘We had a meeting today that actually surprised me. He wants to see no crime.
‘He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down. All things that I agree with.’
During the meeting they also discussed antisemitism and electricity prices.
Trump and Mamdani speak to reporters in the Oval Office (Picture: REUTERS)
Mamdani said he cares deeply about the safety of the Jewish community in New York.
‘I look forward to rooting out antisemitism across the five boroughs and protecting Jewish New Yorkers and every New Yorker who calls the city home,’ he said.
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The incoming mayor previously faced accusations of antisemitism for being pro-Palestine and criticising Israel.
And Trump said before that Jewish voters would be ‘stupid’ to vote for Mamdani.
After Mamdani spoke about his campaign on affordability, Trump said: ‘We’ve got fuel prices way down, but it hasn’t shown up in Con Edison [the New York City-based energy company].
‘We’re going to have to talk to them. We have to get Con Edison to start lowering their rates.’
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