New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his stance on calling President Donald Trump a “fascist,” despite having previously praised him in a White House meeting. During an appearance on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” Mamdani addressed questions about whether he still believes the president is a fascist, even as Trump interjected to suggest it was acceptable to say “yes.”

Mamdani emphasized his position during the Sunday interview, stating, “That’s something I’ve said in the past. I say it today.” He also highlighted the importance of addressing an affordability crisis for New Yorkers, noting that the New York Police Department would be responsible for public safety.

Trump, meanwhile, indicated he had no immediate plans to deploy the National Guard to New York City, saying, “Right now, other places need it more.” However, he added, “If they need it,” referring to the city’s residents, “I would do it.” Mamdani declined to confirm whether Trump had committed not to send troops into the city, but stressed that crime was under control and the National Guard was unnecessary.

Mamdani expressed optimism about his relationship with Trump, stating, “We were not shy about the places of disagreement… and we also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordability crisis for New Yorkers.”