Karoline Leavitt Runs to Fox News to Salvage Trump’s Oval Office Humiliation — But No One Was Buying It

Washington, D.C. – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made a frantic dash to Fox News Friday evening in an attempt to reframe President Donald Trump’s surreal Oval Office meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as a demonstration of the president’s magnanimous leadership style.

Speaking with Sean Hannity on Hannity, Leavitt argued that Trump’s decision to host the democratic socialist — whom he had repeatedly branded a “100% Communist Lunatic” and threatened to financially strangle during the mayoral campaign — proved the president is “willing to meet with anybody, to sit across the table, to shake hands, look people in the eye, and have discussions on how they can mutually benefit the American public.”

“Don’t forget, President Trump is a lifelong New Yorker. He loves that city. He helped build the skyline as it exists and shines today,” Leavitt continued. “So of course he wants New York to succeed. He wants all Americans to succeed because he’s a president for all of the country. The president wants this country to come together and you saw that on full display in the Oval Office.”

Leavitt’s portrayal of the 45-minute sit-down as a kumbaya moment stands in contrast to the viral 22-second clip that has dominated social media since the meeting ended.

When reporters asked Mamdani if he stood by calling Trump a “despot” pushing a “fascist agenda,” the mayor-elect began a diplomatic response about “shared purpose.” Trump cut in with a grin: “I’ve been called much worse than a despot. Believe me. So it’s not that insulting.”

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich followed up, “Mr. Mayor-elect, do you still consider the president a fascist?” Mamdani paused, but Trump patted his arm and said: “That’s OK, you can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” Mamdani smiled, shrugged, and replied: “OK.” Trump laughed, gave him another pat, and added: “See? We’re getting along great. Beautiful.”

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The exchange has been viewed millions of times, spawning memes, T-shirts, and late-night monologues. Jimmy Kimmel called it “Dracula inviting you to bring garlic to dinner.” Stephen Colbert dubbed it “the most relaxed admission of fascism I’ve ever seen.” Lawrence O’Donnell called it a “slumped surrender.”

Even Trump’s own social media activity undercuts Leavitt’s spin. Minutes after the meeting, he posted on Truth Social: “It was a Great Honor meeting Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York City!” accompanied by photos of the two men shaking hands. To ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Trump said Mamdani “couldn’t be nicer” and that they had “good chemistry.”

Prior to the meeting, Trump’s Truth Social feed was a nonstop barrage of vitriol. In September, he wrote: “He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him? This ideology has failed, always, for thousands of years. It will fail again, and that’s guaranteed!”

Mamdani, in his victory speech on November 4, fired back: “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: ‘Turn the volume up!’”

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Leavitt’s Fox Defense: “Trump’s Policies Work — Who Knows? Maybe Mamdani Learned Something”

Leavitt conceded the administration hopes the meeting lays groundwork for a “good working relationship moving forward” but took pains to stress Trump isn’t embracing socialism.

“We know, and the president knows and the American people know that nationally, President Trump’s policies work, and capitalism works,” she told Hannity. “President Trump’s economic formula does work. It is working. It worked in his first term. Who knows? Maybe Mayor Mamdani will go back to New York and maybe he learned a few things from President Trump today.”

Mamdani, leaving the White House, stayed on message with a post reaffirming his affordability agenda, “Working people have been left behind in New York. In the wealthiest city in the world, one in five can’t afford $2.90 for the train or bus. As I told Trump today—it’s time to put those people right back at the heart of our politics.”