Late-night television hosts have delivered their verdict on one of the most unexpected political encounters of the season: Donald Trump's remarkably cordial Oval Office meeting with New York's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani. The encounter, which took place last Friday, left commentators and the MAGA world reeling from its friendly tone.
Seth Meyers dedicated a significant portion of his Closer Look segment to analysing the bizarrely amicable exchange between the president and the Democratic socialist, a figure his administration has frequently criticised. The host expressed astonishment at how visibly pleased Trump appeared to be in the company of the 34-year-old political newcomer.
The 'Smitten' President
Meyers did not hold back in his characterisation of the president's demeanour. "He looks like a five-year-old meeting Mickey Mouse," the amused host remarked. Noting the stark contrast between Trump's previous descriptions of Mamdani as a "communist" and a "total nutjob" and his current behaviour, Meyers stated, "I've never seen Trump this smitten before."
He theorised that the president's apparent enchantment stemmed from his usual company. "This is a reminder: he doesn't work with a single cool person!" Meyers joked. "He is surrounded by so many charmless goons that the first time he got to hang out with someone that had a little charisma, he swooned like he was on a date with the varsity quarterback."
Meyers elaborated that anyone would be starstruck after spending their days with "joyless gargoyles like Stephen Miller and JD Vance" before suddenly meeting "a 34-year-old social media star who rapped in a halal cart and once appeared in an actual Disney movie."
A Flirtatious Exchange on Fascism
The most surprising moment of the meeting, according to Meyers, occurred when a reporter questioned Mamdani about his past characterisation of Trump as a fascist. In a stunning interjection, the president patted the mayor-elect on the arm and said, "That's OK, you can just say, 'Yes.' OK? It's easier – it's easier than explaining it. I don't mind."
"That is the flirtiest I've ever heard anyone say, 'You can call me a fascist,'" Meyers quipped, before launching into a Trump impression: "You can call me a fascist, you can call me – I'll be whatever you want me to be!"
Despite the friendly encounter, Meyers offered a note of caution, concluding that it would not be surprising if Trump subsequently changed his tune. "We've seen it happen many times before," he noted. "But the one takeaway that will last is that all the Maga scare tactics evaporated. The right thought meeting Trump would be Zohran's worst nightmare, but it turns out meeting Zohran was Trump's dream come true."
Kimmel's Take on an Unlikely Alliance
On the opposite coast, Jimmy Kimmel also weighed in on the unusual political spectacle during his Los Angeles broadcast. He contrasted the event with the resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, another figure frequently featured in his monologues. "Yet another Trump superfan learns that loyalty to him goes only one way," he laughed.
Kimmel then turned his attention to what he described as Trump's "highly unlikely Friendsgiving" with Mamdani. "Most people were expecting fireworks," he said, "but they did not expect them to be the Katy Perry kind."
The host expressed shock at the president's effusive praise for the mayor-elect, which included comments such as, "He really ran an incredible race," "it's an amazing thing that he did," and "I feel very confident that he's going to do a great job."
"What a turn of events!" Kimmel exclaimed. "It was like he was giving a wedding toast to his new son-in-law. It's almost as if, and I know this sounds crazy – it's almost as if Trump doesn't have any real political convictions at all. He just says whatever, whenever."
Kimmel also highlighted the physical familiarity Trump displayed, quipping, "He touched him more in that press conference that he's touched Melania all year."
The unlikely alliance caused significant consternation within Trump's base. "They had to unplug and reboot Sean Hannity five times after this," Kimmel chuckled, pointing out the hypocrisy of their outrage. "They're mad at Trump, some of them are furious at Trump, because he was friendly with the new mayor of New York. Last week, he had a big celebratory dinner for the Saudi prince whose goons dismembered a columnist for the Washington Post? No problem. This? Too much."
Kimmel concluded with a simple explanation for the president's behaviour: "Trump loves when famous people come to visit."
