The political world was left reeling on Friday after President Donald Trump hosted a surprisingly cordial meeting with Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office, creating significant discomfort among his MAGA supporters who previously heard the president describe the New York figure as a "communist lunatic".
MAGA World Reacts with Outrage
Social media platforms erupted with criticism from Trump's most loyal supporters following the meeting. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, one of Trump's most fervent online backers, expressed her disgust in multiple posts, calling the event "wild" and claiming it physically nauseated her.
"I had to drink a bottle of ginger ale today after seeing Mamdani in the Oval Office because it physically nauseates me seeing Islamic jihadists infiltrate our government," Loomer wrote, highlighting the depth of feeling among Trump's base.
During Friday's news conference, Trump notably retreated from his previous opposition to Mamdani, suggesting the controversial figure "can do a very job" as mayor despite previously threatening to withhold federal funds from New York for electing him.
Republican Figures Voice Concerns
The backlash extended beyond social media influencers to include established Republican politicians. Elise Stefanik, a member of Congress running for New York state governor next year, delivered a particularly sharp criticism using repetitive phrasing to emphasise her point.
"If he walks like a jihadist. If he talks like a jihadist. If he campaigns like a jihadist. If he supports jihadists – he's a jihadist," Stefanik declared, making her position unmistakably clear.
New York City Republican councillor Inna Vernikov expressed disappointment that Trump had "legitimized" Mamdani, questioning whether the administration had forgotten Mamdani's controversial positions on taxation and anti-terror units.
Strategic Support Emerges
Not all Trump supporters viewed the meeting negatively. Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist, suggested Trump was employing political subtlety by boosting Mamdani whose policies might ultimately "crater the city."
"Trump will let him collapse because he's a Marxist jihadist," Bannon explained during a discussion on his War Room podcast, indicating a possible long-term strategy behind the apparent cordiality.
The meeting also surprised supporters of Mamdani. Jumanne Williams, New York's public advocate and a Democrat, called the encounter "pretty shocking" while acknowledging it might have staved off potentially harmful actions against the city.
Former Democratic mayor Bill de Blasio, who endorsed Mamdani's candidacy, drew parallels with his own White House meetings with Trump, suggesting the president respects political opponents who engage with him directly without fear.
The extraordinary Oval Office meeting has exposed significant fractures within Trump's support base while raising questions about the administration's approach to political opponents previously characterised as extreme.
