Zohran Mamdani gives awkward response to Trump repeatedly calling him ‘handsome’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has finally addressed one of President Donald Trump's more unexpected compliments, responding with a laugh after the president repeatedly described him as "handsome" and "good-looking."

During a recent interview, published this week, Mamdani admitted he did not quite know how to respond when asked about Trump's remarks, offering a brief but amused reaction.

Zohran Mamdani offers awkward but lighthearted response to Donald Trump's compliment

Mamdani, a democratic socialist serving as New York City mayor, sat down with Rolling Stone for a wide-ranging interview covering his administration and his relationship with President Trump.

Among the topics raised was Trump's recent description of him as a "charming guy" and a "good-looking guy."

Asked how he felt about the compliment, Mamdani laughed before replying, "I, uh... thank you?"

The short answer quickly stood out because it reflected the unusual dynamic between the two politicians.

While Trump has frequently criticized Democratic leaders, he has also occasionally interrupted those attacks with compliments about their appearance.

Donald Trump has praised several political rivals over the years

Although Trump is well known for mocking opponents, he has repeatedly complimented the appearance of people he has also criticized.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is one example. During a Cabinet meeting last year, Trump criticized Newsom's leadership while still saying, "You have an incompetent governor in California: Gavin. I know him very well. He's a nice guy, good-looking."

Newsom later responded with his own social media post, writing, "THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, LITTLE HANDS."

Trump has also complimented Britain's Prince William following their meeting in Paris in 2024.

Speaking afterward, the president said, "He's a good-looking guy. He looked really, very handsome."

He continued, "Some people look better in person? He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that."

Donald Trump also made headlines for comments about Egypt's president

Another memorable moment came during last month's G7 Summit, when Trump recalled meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during his first term.

Speaking about that first meeting, Trump joked, "So, he was in a hotel, and I met him, and we fell in love, deeply in love."

The remark drew laughter from people around him before Trump added, "And he didn't even want to see Hillary," referring to former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Earlier this year, Trump also paused his commencement speech at the United States Coast Guard Academy after spotting a graduating cadet in the audience.

Calling the graduate to the stage, Trump said, "Get up here — I want to see this guy," before shaking his hand and briefly speaking with him as the audience watched.