President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shake hands as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was pressed Friday on whether he believes President Donald Trump is a fascist.

Standing beside his host in the Oval Office, Mamdani began to answer – until the president, seated, interrupted.

“That’s OK – you can just say yes. That’s easier. It’s easier than explaining,” Trump told his guest, laughing it off as he playfully tapped Mamdani on the arm.

That collegial interaction was nearly unthinkable in the lead-up to the meeting as both sides postured, but the leader of the MAGA movement and the self-described democratic socialist made clear their conversation was a productive one –

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