'I'm a much better-looking person': Trump dismisses comparisons to Mamdani on '60 Minutes'
🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP ON ZOHRAN MAMDANI: I'm a much better looking person than him! But it's gonna be hard to give a lot of money to New York - because if you have a communist running NYC, you're WASTING the money. I'm not a fan of Cuomo. But between a bad Democrat and a communist?… pic.twitter.com/06mWGb0dqJ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 3, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump made his feelings known on New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in his interview on CBS's ‘60 Minutes’, rejecting any comparisons between them while focusing on their perceived differences.
The Republican leader also said that it would be hard for him to give any federal funding to the city if Mamdani is elected, labeling the democratic socialist candidate as a "communist."
Trump dismisses idea that Mamdani is a 'left-wing version' of him
During the '60 Minutes' interview, published on Sunday, November 2, correspondent Norah O’Donnell noted similarities between the two men, saying, "Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you — charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?"
Trump immediately denied the comparison, primarily focusing on a non-political attribute, and said, “Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person than him.” He tried to reinforce his point by adding, “I think I’m a much better-looking person than him, right?”
Trump says it would be hard for him to give money to NYC if Mamdani wins
When Norah O'Donnell asked about the president's response if Zohran Mamdani were elected mayor, Donald Trump warned of what that could mean for federal aid to New York City.
"It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York," he said, elaborating, "Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
The president hinted that he would prefer Andrew Cuomo to win the election, saying, “So I don’t know that he’s won, and I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or another, but if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you."
Trump rejects Mamdani's democratic socialist label
The debate about Zohran Mamdani's political philosophy began when Norah O’Donnell introduced him as a "democratic socialist." Trump immediately interrupted to insert his own view of the candidate's ideology, discarding the democratic socialist label and declaring, "Communist, not socialist."
He emphasized his strong disapproval of Mamdani's far-left platform, which includes proposals such as freezing rent and free bus rides. Trump declared emphatically, "He’s far worse than a socialist." This aligns with previous dismissals, as Trump had bestowed the nickname "my little communist" upon the candidate.
Trump’s first CBS interview since lawsuit
The '60 Minutes' interview was a highly anticipated media event as it was Donald Trump's first appearance on a CBS program since his settlement with its parent company, Paramount, over the editing of a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
As part of the settlement, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million, which is to go toward Trump's eventual presidential library, not directly to him.
