Kellyanne Conway explains why Zohran Mamdani should have said 'no' to meeting Trump

Kellyanne Conway said Zohran Mamdani could have confronted or ignored Trump but instead allowed himself to appear 'cowed' by the president
Kellyanne Conway discussed New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent meeting with President Donald Trump (Fox News/YouTube, Getty Images)
Kellyanne Conway discussed New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent meeting with President Donald Trump (Fox News/YouTube, Getty Images)


NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Kellyanne Conway, one of the hosts of Fox News’ 'The Five', discussed Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent meeting with Donald Trump on Monday, November 24, 2025. 

During the episode, she explained why she believed Mamdani didn’t do himself any favors by meeting with the president, noting that he reduced his “credibility” among the people who are “addled with Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

She also noted that Mamdani did what his voters would never have done since they didn't like Trump. 

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Kellyanne Conway notes Zohran Mamdani looked like Trump's apprentice

During the latest episode of 'The Five', the panel discussed the recent meeting between Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump at the White House. Kellyanne Conway described the meeting as “classic Trump,” noting that he looked like the charmer between him and Mamdani. 

She said he was charming someone who is yet to take office, in hopes that Mamdani wouldn’t follow through on some of his “radical ideas,” and rethink some of his other ideas.

While speaking to Jessica Tarlov, she said that for a movement that talked about “No Kings,” the president sat there looking like royalty while Zohran Mamdani looked like he was about to get him a Diet Coke.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City’s mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“It looked like this apprentice to this senior partner, no doubt,” she added.

Kellyanne wondered what would have happened if Mamdani went in and openly disagreed with Trump.

“Here are the names of the people who have been abducted by ICE and deported unfairly,” she added.

'The Five' host recalled that Mamdani did nothing of that sort and said he looked “totally cowed and charmed” by Trump. She added that if anyone wanted to make the president “irrelevant” and wanted him gone, they would ignore him.

Kellyanne claimed that she had never come across anyone who was able to ignore Trump in a decade. She called him a “gravitational pull” and a “magnetic field.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: New York City Mayor-elect speaks during a press conference on November 20, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani held a press conference on his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and what he plans to discuss during the meeting. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
New York City Mayor-elect speaks during a press conference on November 20, 2025 in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

Kellyanne Conway compares Trump's meeting with Zohran Mamdani to others in past

During the segment, Kellyanne Conway compared how the recent meeting between the two politicians went to Trump's meetings with other political figures in the past. She said that he did the same thing with Barack Obama and Joe Biden during the transition. 

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 04:  U.S. President elect Barack Obama (L) and Vice-President elect Joe Biden  wa
Former President Barack Obama (L) and former President Joe Biden wave to their supporters after Obama gave his victory speech during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The political consultant recalled what Trump had said to Hillary Clinton after defeating her in 2016. She said he had congratulated her on running a “tough campaign” in hopes that she would help his presidency.

Conway also referred to Trump’s recent meeting with Vladimir Putin, after which, the entire “Western Europe” and all of NATO were in the Oval Office. 

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