Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
WATCH: Trump praises Mamdani, says he is not a 'jihadist'
Posted
November 22, 2025
Views
12,096
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160
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November 22, 2025
12,096
160
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President Donald Trump said Friday that he does not believe New York City's incoming mayor is a "jihadist," a term that one of Trump's allies has used on the campaign trail. The president's comments came during a joint appearance before the media with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House. The two met after months of trading insults.
Yet, during their Oval Office meeting, they were far more civilized. At times, Trump praised the mayor-elect despite their political differences. Both said they’ll look to work together to improve the nation’s largest city. A reporter asked Trump whether he thought he was standing next to a "jihadist," citing criticism of Mamdani by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as she runs for governor of New York.
"No," Trump said. "She's out there campaigning, and you say things sometimes in a campaign."
The president called Mamdani "a very rational person" who "wants to see New York be great again." The two men said they discussed housing, affordability, crime and public safety during their meeting.
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