Former President Donald Trump's unexpected praise of New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has triggered an intense backlash within the Republican Party, fracturing GOP messaging just as the 2026 midterm cycle accelerates. At a White House meeting on Nov. 21, Trump described Mamdani as "a very rational person," a stark departure from the months he spent calling the Democrat a "100% Communist lunatic" and a "pure, true communist." The shift has jolted conservative activists who rely on anti-socialist themes to energize their base.
The encounter, which focused on housing affordability and cooperation with the incoming New York administration, marked the highest-profile meeting yet between Trump and Mamdani. Trump also defended Mamdani from reporters' questions, telling him it would be "easier" to simply say yes when pressed on whether he believed Trump was a fascist. He dismissed criticism of Mamdani's decision to fly to Washington, saying the mayor-elect was "very rational" and urging journalists to give him room to govern.
The reaction across the Republican right was swift and furious. Conservative activist Laura Loomer accused Trump of sending the wrong signal to voters and demanded on social media, "So we are just going to normalise communism?" Loomer, referencing Mamdani's left-leaning proposals, warned that embracing a democratic-socialist platform risked undermining GOP arguments ahead of the midterms. She argued that the party could lose the contrast it has relied on, saying Republicans were effectively telling voters "they don't need the GOP" if they validate Mamdani's economic agenda.
The whiplash is especially notable given Trump's sustained attacks on Mamdani earlier this year. In June 2025, he called Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic" on Truth Social, mocking him over ideology and appearance. The reversal has raised alarms among strategists who fear it muddles the party's most consistent talking point against the progressive left.
Mamdani, meanwhile, has sought to clarify his political identity. In a June 29, 2025 interview on NBC's Meet the Press, he responded to accusations of communism by saying, "No, I am not. I call myself a democratic socialist." He has repeatedly framed his platform as a fight for economic justice rather than a radical transformation of the political system. After the Oval Office meeting, Mamdani said the exchange focused "not on places of disagreement but on the shared purpose in serving New Yorkers."
Analysts say the meeting signals a pragmatic calculation on both sides. For Mamdani, cooperation with Washington offers an opportunity to secure federal leverage on housing and infrastructure. For Trump, the overture may reflect an effort to reestablish political footing ahead of 2026 while appealing to younger urban voters who responded favorably to Mamdani's campaign themes.
