Here's an awkward political dance: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just had what he called a productive White House meeting with President Donald Trump, and he's sticking with calling him a fascist. Politics in 2025, everyone.

No Walking It Back

During an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," host Kristen Welker pressed Mamdani on comments he made at Friday's joint press conference. A reporter had asked if he still believed Trump is a fascist, and before Mamdani could fully respond, Trump jumped in with, "That's OK. You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it." So Welker wanted clarity: "Mr. Mayor-elect, just to be very clear, do you think that President Trump is a fascist?"

Mamdani didn't hedge. "And after President Trump said that, I said, 'Yes,'" he explained. "That's something that I've said in the past. I say it today." He added that despite this assessment, he hopes to build a working relationship with the Republican president. When asked if he still sees Trump as a threat to democracy, Mamdani kept it simple: "Everything that I've said in the past, I continue to believe."

Finding Common Ground on Affordability

The fascinating part? Despite the sharp ideological divide, Mamdani said their Oval Office conversation revealed shared concerns about New York's affordability crisis. Housing costs and child care expenses topped the list. Mamdani emphasized he went to Washington to deliver results for his constituents, not to pick a fight or score political points.

Trump Returns the Compliments

Trump, for his part, seemed pleased with how things went. He called the meeting "really good, very productive" and congratulated Mamdani for running "an incredible race against a lot of smart people." He later posted on Truth Social: "It was a Great Honor meeting Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York City!"

More importantly for New York, Trump appeared to soften his previous stance on federal aid. During the campaign, he'd endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and threatened to cut funding to the city. When asked about that threat on Friday, Trump said he now expects "to be helping him, not hurting him."

So there you have it: two politicians who fundamentally disagree on democracy and governance sitting down to talk about housing costs. Whether this translates into actual policy wins for New York remains to be seen, but at least the door's open.