Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Nov 24: A highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani turned into an unexpected internet spectacle on Friday, leaving the MAGA ecosystem unusually stunned and divided. What many right-wing commentators expected to be a fiery ideological showdown instead unfolded as a cordial exchange marked by smiles, praise and unexpected warmth.
Trump, who had previously labelled Mamdani a “communist lunatic,” struck an entirely different tone after their Oval Office interaction. “I feel very confident that he can do a very good job,” he told reporters, signalling a rare moment of political detente.
The reaction from MAGA circles was noticeably muted. Online influencers, anonymous accounts and young America First supporters struggled to frame the encounter, exposing widening fractures within the conservative movement. While some attempted to highlight Trump’s “softer side,” others claimed the president was sparing Mamdani from public embarrassment.
Major voices such as Tucker Carlson remained silent as of Sunday, and even the president’s own promotional account on X, Rapid Response 47, avoided posting about the meeting.
Mamdani, who has long faced right-wing attacks branding him an “antisemitic socialist,” appeared unfazed as the spotlight shifted to the internal turmoil the meeting stirred among conservative commentators. Notably, the president did not challenge Mamdani’s criticism of his “fascist agenda,” a label Mamdani has frequently used on the campaign trail.
Among those reveling in the chaos was Nick Fuentes, a young white nationalist who has recently become a central critic of Trump from within the right. He dismissed the entire spectacle as “political theater,” alleging hypocrisy within MAGA leadership. “It’s kayfabe… They don’t believe anything they’re peddling,” he said.
One figure who seized the moment was far-right activist Jack Posobiec, now part of the White House press pool. During the media interaction, Posobiec pressed Mamdani on whether he planned to raise taxes for white New Yorkers. Mamdani responded, “No, we intend to create a fair property tax system,” drawing praise from conservative influencers hungry for confrontation.
Not all reactions were celebratory. Trump loyalist Laura Loomer called it “wild” to see a “Jihadist communist” in the Oval Office, though she later clarified she was not criticising the president.
Despite the uproar, Mamdani’s team highlighted points of agreement between the two leaders, including concerns over affordability and their status as political outsiders. Trump even remarked that he found common ground with Sen. Bernie Sanders, further baffling conservative audiences.
Meanwhile, longstanding divisions within the Republican right—fueled recently by debates over the Epstein files, Israel policy, and economic frustrations—were brought into sharp relief by the encounter.
Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist, attempted to shape the narrative by suggesting Trump’s friendliness was a calculated move. “He’s going to boost Mamdani, whose policies will crater the city. Trump will let him collapse because he’s a Marxist jihadist,” Bannon claimed during a livestream.
But even Bannon and Posobiec could not hide flashes of jealousy over the sudden Trump–Mamdani camaraderie. As they replayed moments from the meeting, Posobiec remarked on Mamdani’s “little smile,” prompting Bannon to correct him: “It’s not a smile… It’s a smirk.”
The moment may fade, but the ripples of discontent within the MAGA universe appear likely to linger.