Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that following President Donald Trump hosting Mamdani for a White House meeting shows he “is clearly the leader of the Democratic Party now.” He praised Mamdani’s campaign, saying, “I think that you’ve got to have some admiration for a candidate who ran a campaign the way he did. It was a great, great campaign.” Bessent noted the meeting with Trump speaks to his open-mindedness, stating, “I think it speaks to how open-minded the president is that he invited him into the Oval [Office].” He pointed out that despite Mamdani running as a Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer seemed to avoid him, saying, “Sen. Schumer never endorsed him. I don’t even know if he’s met with him.” Bessent criticized Mamdani’s policies, stating, “My impression of the mayor-elect is he’s a young man with a lot of old ideas that have never worked,” and questioned their effectiveness, “Point to one example where policies like his have led to anything other than a decline.” He added, “He hopes that New York will do well,” emphasizing Trump’s interest in the city’s success. Bessent questioned whether Mamdani could manage the Big Apple, noting, “It’s easy to run a campaign, but the practical everyday of keeping people safe, picking up the trash, making the subways run on time, we’ll see.” Mamdani and Trump had traded verbal jabs at each other leading up to their meeting. As Mamdani began to speak, Trump patted him on the arm and said, “That’s OK. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is the new leader of the Democratic Party.
