The widely reported meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, where US President Donald Trump spoke with the newly elected mayor of New York, Zoran Mamdani, gave rise to a curious moment.
The two discussed their history of political attacks and insults, culminating when a reporter asked Mamdani if she still considered Trump a fascist, as she did during his election campaign.
"I was talking about...", the guest of the head of state was embarrassed, but the president smiled and made it easy for him by saying:
„It's nothing, you can just say „yes“. It's easier than explaining – I don't mind!“.
The newly elected mayor confirmed “yes“ and they both laughed, demonstrating an unexpectedly friendly tone for a meeting between bitter rivals.
As FACT already wrote, after the meeting, Trump said that the two agreed on many more issues than he had expected.
Trump admitted that the meeting “actually surprised him“. “He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing built. He wants to see rents reduced. I agree with all of that”, the president told reporters at the White House. He had previously sharply criticized Mamdani.
In response to a question about his previous threats to cut federal funding to New York, Trump said that he was not expected to do so. "I'm going to help him, I'm not going to hurt him, and I'm going to give him a lot of help because I want New York to be great. I think this mayor can do some really great things," the American leader said.
When asked if he would feel comfortable living in New York under Mamdani, Trump replied: "I would feel very, very comfortable in New York after this meeting."
Trump said he did not consider Mamdani a jihadist in a comment on the position of US Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who called the newly elected mayor of New York that.
“No. You'd have to ask her. I don't think so. "I think I met at the White House with a very rational person who wants to make New York great again," Trump said.
He added that he would be happy if Mamdani could make New York even greater than it was before.
Elise Stefanik announced her candidacy for governor of New York earlier in November. The position is currently held by Democrat Kathy Hochul.