CNN host Kaitlan Collins and former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen on CNN on November 21, 2025

President Donald Trump hosted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office on Friday, where the two had an unpredictably amicable photo-op and press conference.

That meeting caught many Republicans off guard, though Michael Cohen – who was Trump's longtime personal attorney and fixer for more than a decade – told CNN host Kaitlan Collins that he expected the president to embrace Mamdani. He observed that one of Trump's strengths is disarming potential opponents with friendship – only to pivot and become an enemy once they do something he dislikes.

"I always knew that they were going to end up getting together in the Oval," Cohen said. "And Donald Trump has the ability to be incredibly personable. I mean, how many times have you heard people turn around after meeting with Donald Trump, say, 'you know, I thought that he would be different ... I didn't think that it was going to go as well as it did.' He could be very charming when he wants to."

"But, when the time comes, if in fact, that things happen that, let's say Trump does not approve of and it becomes a fight, well, then that's when the teeth come out and Trump will fight tooth and nail in order to get his point of view and to get his position across," he added.

Mamdani has pledged as mayor to oppose the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in the Big Apple, and said earlier this week that under his leadership, the city would end its cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that incumbent Mayor Eric Adams began earlier this year. And in Mamdani's victory speech earlier this month, he vowed to end the "culture of corruption" In New York City that "gave rise to" Trump. Cohen observed that MAGA Republicans like Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) — who has used Mamdani as a foil in her campaign for next year's gubernatorial election in the Empire State – are likely not happy with Trump's embrace of the self-described Democratic socialist mayor.

If you're a Donald Trump MAGA supporter, you're obviously very angry," Cohen said. "As a New Yorker, I keep trying to say to people, let's let's just take a step back here. Let's give the guy a chance. He won the election. He is going to be the mayor of New York. Let's take a step back."

Watch the segment below:

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