President Donald Trump offered a measured reaction on Tuesday after New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was questioned by a reporter about previously referring to Trump as a “despot.”
The exchange occurred during a press availability when a reporter pressed Mamdani on the comment.
“Days ago you referred to Trump as a despot who betrayed the country…” the reporter began.
Mamdani did not walk back the remark, instead saying, “I think both President Trump and I are very clear about our positions and our views.” He did not elaborate further on his characterization of the president.
Before the reporter could continue, Trump stepped in with a light-toned response.
“I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting,” Trump said, drawing brief laughter from the room.
The moment diffused what could have otherwise been a tense exchange, with Trump opting not to escalate the criticism and Mamdani choosing not to repeat or expand on his earlier comment.
No additional remarks were made by either about the subject, and the event quickly moved on to other questions.
