New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said he hasn't changed his position on President Donald Trump after the pair had a cordial meeting at the White House, reaffirming his previous criticism of the Republican Party leader.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," host Kristen Welker asked Mamdani if he still believes the president is a fascist and a threat to democracy.

The incoming mayor and democratic socialist said he sticks by his comments, which include alleging as recently as his Nov. 4 victory speech that the president has engaged in attacks on American democracy and represents a "fascist" and "despot."

Welker in the interview also mentioned an exchange during Trump and Mamdani's Oval Office meeting when a reporter asked the NYC mayor-elect if he considers Trump a fascist, as he's said before.

When Mamdani started to respond, standing next to the president while he was seated at the Resolute Desk, Trump quickly made a joke.

“That’s OK, you can just say, ‘yes,’” Trump said to Mamdani. “It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining. I don’t mind.”

Mamdani noted in the interview that aired on Sunday that – after Trump made the jab – he said "yes," to the reporter's question.

"That’s something I’ve said in the past (and) I say it today," Mamdani said.

While different definitions abound, many experts agree that fascism is an extreme combination of nationalism and militarism, often accompanied by a cult of personality surrounding a leader.

The "Meet the Press" appearance was Mamdani's first national interview since the White House meeting, which captured public attention for the pair's chummy, positive attitudes after months of trading blows. Trump has blasted the incoming mayor in several social media posts, calling him a communist and "nut job" in the lead-up to his overwhelming Election Day victory.

Though Mamdani said he hasn't changed his mind on the president's positions, he still said he's hopeful they can work together to address affordability. The costs of housing, childcare and groceries were central to Mamdani's successful campaign.

"What I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement, about the politics that has brought us to this moment," Mamdani said of Trump. "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,” he said.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.

Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mamdani says he still thinks Trump is a 'fascist' after friendly meeting

Reporting by Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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