New York City Mayor-elect Zohran mamdani said Sunday he still believes President Donald Trump is a “fascist,” following their high-profile meeting at the White House on Friday.
“That’s something that I’ve said in the past, adn I say it today,” he told NBC host Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.”
Welker pressed the self-avowed democratic socialist on an incident from a media spray in the Oval Office during which Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich asked him whether he still believes President Trump is a “fascist.”
TRUMP, MAMDANI SET TOO FACE-OFF IN FIRST OVAL OFFICE MEETING – WHAT’S ON THE TABLE
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with New York City mayor-elect Zohran mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on friday, november 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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New York City Mayor Jeffrie Mamdani stated that his recent meeting with former President Donald Trump at the White House centered on finding common ground despite political differences, especially regarding issues impacting new Yorkers like affordability and public safety.
Mamdani described the conversation as honest and productive,emphasizing the importance of addressing disagreements while focusing on shared interests. “And I think that’s the thing that’s critically important in our politics is that we don’t shy away from where we have disagreements, but we understand what it is indeed that brings us to the table,” he said, according to a report by Fox News.
Meeting Focused on New York Priorities
The meeting, which took place on friday, addressed pressing concerns for New York City, including the rising cost of living, housing challenges, and public safety initiatives. Mamdani expressed gratitude for Trump’s willingness to discuss these issues.
“I appreciated my conversation with [Trump] for being honest about areas of disagreement while open to focusing on the interests of New Yorkers and the affordability crisis,” Mamdani stated.
Public Safety and NYPD Staffing
A key topic of discussion was public safety. Mamdani intends to maintain approximately 35,000 officers within the New York Police Department (NYPD) while simultaneously shifting the responsibility for non-urgent calls away from police and towards mental health professionals. This approach aims to better allocate resources and provide more appropriate responses to individuals experiencing mental health crises. https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement
Looking Ahead
Mamdani’s victory in the recent New York City mayoral race signaled a desire for change, and his meeting with Trump demonstrates a willingness to engage with leaders across the political spectrum to address the challenges facing the city. The focus on affordability, housing, and public safety suggests a pragmatic approach to governance, prioritizing the needs of New York City residents.
Key takeaways:
* NYC Mayor Jeffrie Mamdani met with former President donald Trump at the white House.
* The discussion focused on shared interests, including affordability, housing, and public safety in New York City.
* Mamdani plans to maintain current NYPD staffing levels while reallocating resources to mental health responders for non-urgent calls.
* Both leaders acknowledged areas of disagreement but expressed a willingness to collaborate on issues impacting New Yorkers.
Fox News’ Hanna Panreck, Jasmine Baher and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.
Taylor Penley is an associate editor with Fox News.
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