Trump jokes Mamdani should just admit he called him a ‘fascist’

Trump was all praise for Mamdani after their meeting as he brushed off tension and struck a surprisingly warm tone

In a surprisingly warm Oval Office meeting, President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shared a moment of political levity when a reporter pressed Mamdani about remarks he previously made calling Trump a “fascist.” As Mamdani began to respond, Trump interjected with a laugh, reassuring him, “That’s OK. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Mamdani, who has repeatedly criticised Trump in the past, smiled and replied, “Okay … yes.” The exchange came amid an otherwise cordial meeting, surprising many given the pair’s prior public clashes.

According to reports, the two focused much of their discussion on pressing issues like housing affordability and the cost of living in New York City. Despite sharp ideological differences, Mamdani is a democratic socialist, while Trump has often used harsh rhetoric against him, the tone of the meeting was unusually cooperative.

Later in the conversation, Trump also shrugged off Mamdani’s earlier description of him as a “despot,” telling him he had “been called much worse.” Observers noted that the moment underscored a surprising shift: instead of refusing to engage, the two leaders leaned into the tension with humor.

The light-hearted comment hasn’t gone unnoticed online. Many see it as a powerful political move by Trump, reframing an insult into a point of reconciliation. Others interpret it as a tactical way to defuse a potentially awkward question without conceding anything.

For his part, Mamdani later expressed that he appreciated the meeting’s focus on “the shared purpose” of improving life in New York, rather than rehashing past slights.

In a political moment that might have felt like a gotcha for either side, Trump chose to turn it into a punchline. Whether that changes how fans and critics view their relationship is yet to be seen, but for now, the “you can just say yes” line is dominating headlines.