President Donald Trump stepped in to bail out New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday after a reporter pressed the Democrat on his past comments labeling Trump a “fascist,” “despot,” and a threat to the country.
The tense moment unfolded during what had otherwise been a surprisingly cordial Oval Office press conference following the pair’s first meeting — a meeting that both men described as positive despite months of heated public exchanges.
The first blow came from New York Post correspondent Stephen Nelson, who asked Mamdani whether he still stands by his previous statements accusing Trump of betraying the country and pushing a “fascist agenda.” Mamdani avoided retracting the remarks, instead praising the meeting and emphasizing their “shared purpose” of serving New Yorkers rather than rehashing political disputes.
Trump brushed off the insults with humor. “I’ve been called much worse than a despot,” he said. “So it’s not that insulting.”
But Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich wasn’t willing to let Mamdani sidestep the issue. After questions on Ukraine and affordability, she circled back to the “fascist” remark — refusing to grant him the political escape hatch he seemed to be looking for.
“That's okay. You can just say yes. That’s easier than explaining it. I don't mind.”
— Donald Trump after a reporter asked Zohran Mamdani if he thinks Trump is a fascist.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 21, 2025
“I want to clarify your answer to Stephen Nelson,” Heinrich said. “He asked about your comment calling the president a ‘fascist,’ and your answer was: ‘President Trump and I have been clear in our positions and our views.’ Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?”
Mamdani began to fumble through a non-answer. “I’ve spoken about—”
Before he could continue, Trump cut in with a grin, rescuing the mayor-elect from further embarrassment.
“That’s OK, you can just say yes,” Trump joked, patting Mamdani on the arm.
Caught off guard and cornered, Mamdani conceded: “Okay, alright.”
“It’s easier than explaining it,” Trump laughed, diffusing the moment with unexpected good humor.
The exchange highlighted a remarkable shift in tone compared to recent months, when Mamdani repeatedly attacked Trump publicly — branding him a “Communist lunatic,” suggesting he was unfit for office, and at times descending into rhetoric that even some Democrats found excessive.
Yet on Friday, Trump showed a willingness to overlook the inflammatory past remarks and instead presented himself as magnanimous, even playful, in contrast to the media’s attempt to force Mamdani into a political confrontation.
The moment also underscored how eager journalists were to reignite conflict between the two men — and how uninterested Trump seemed in letting them succeed. His lighthearted intervention not only spared Mamdani a politically awkward moment but also placed Trump in the unusual position of looking like the gracious adult in the room while the mayor-elect scrambled to reconcile his past rhetoric with his new relationship to the White House.
For a president long accused by his critics of sowing division, Friday’s performance suggested something else entirely: Trump was willing to let bygones be bygones — even if the media wasn’t.
