NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Reveals Unusual Book He Spotted at White House
Meeting with President Donald Trump included a moment amid the Oval Office’s coffee-table books that caught Mamdani’s attention
During his visit to the White House, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani surfaced with a light-hearted anecdote about spotting a copy of "UFC at the White House" among the coffee-table books laid out ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump.
Mamdani said he was “flippin’, flippin’ through” the book while waiting in the Oval Office, and described it as the “weirdest” item he encountered.
The reveal came during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Adam Friedland, where Mamdani answered questions about his first visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
When asked whether he planned to attend the next White House UFC event scheduled for June, he declined with a simple “No,” drawing laughter.
While voicing the anecdote in good humour, Mamdani also emphasised that his agenda during the meeting was focused on core issues: housing affordability, child-care costs and utility bills.
The encounter at the White House followed a previously tense campaign in which Mr. Trump had criticised Mamdani, calling him a “communist lunatic” and threatening federal funding cuts for New York if Mamdani won.
However, reports from the Oval Office meeting suggest a more collaborative tone, with the president praising Mamdani’s potential as mayor and affirming he would “feel comfortable living in New York City” under his leadership.
Mamdani said the moment of odd-book recognition helped him stay composed during the meeting.
He noted that while ideological differences remain, both he and Mr. Trump acknowledged the importance of delivering results for New York’s residents.
At one point, when asked whether he still regarded the president as a “fascist” — a label Mamdani has previously used — Mr. Trump humorously replied, “That’s okay.
You can just say yes.
It’s easier than explaining.”
With his inauguration set for January 1, Mamdani’s recounting of the White House optics underscores both the unusual nature of the meeting and his determination to focus on practical outcomes for the city’s working families.
The anecdote of the UFC book may be small, but it reflects a broader tone switch.
The two men, once at odds, now appeared willing to engage constructively in the interests of the city’s future.
Mamdani said he was “flippin’, flippin’ through” the book while waiting in the Oval Office, and described it as the “weirdest” item he encountered.
The reveal came during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Adam Friedland, where Mamdani answered questions about his first visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
When asked whether he planned to attend the next White House UFC event scheduled for June, he declined with a simple “No,” drawing laughter.
While voicing the anecdote in good humour, Mamdani also emphasised that his agenda during the meeting was focused on core issues: housing affordability, child-care costs and utility bills.
The encounter at the White House followed a previously tense campaign in which Mr. Trump had criticised Mamdani, calling him a “communist lunatic” and threatening federal funding cuts for New York if Mamdani won.
However, reports from the Oval Office meeting suggest a more collaborative tone, with the president praising Mamdani’s potential as mayor and affirming he would “feel comfortable living in New York City” under his leadership.
Mamdani said the moment of odd-book recognition helped him stay composed during the meeting.
He noted that while ideological differences remain, both he and Mr. Trump acknowledged the importance of delivering results for New York’s residents.
At one point, when asked whether he still regarded the president as a “fascist” — a label Mamdani has previously used — Mr. Trump humorously replied, “That’s okay.
You can just say yes.
It’s easier than explaining.”
With his inauguration set for January 1, Mamdani’s recounting of the White House optics underscores both the unusual nature of the meeting and his determination to focus on practical outcomes for the city’s working families.
The anecdote of the UFC book may be small, but it reflects a broader tone switch.
The two men, once at odds, now appeared willing to engage constructively in the interests of the city’s future.
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