Zohran Mamdani reveals ‘weird’ object in Trump’s Oval Office that had him ‘flipping’ out

When asked whether he planned to attend the actual UFC event planned for the next year, he laughed and said simply: “No.”

This moment became one of the most‑reported anecdotes from the visit because it painted an unexpected, almost surreal juxtaposition: a progressive Democratic socialist mayor‑elect, moments away from meeting the U.S. president, leafing through a flashy UFC promotional coffee‑table book in the Oval Office.

🧩 Why It Resonated (and Why It’s News)
📌 1. Cultural Oddity Meets Politics

The sight of a UFC book in the world’s most famous political office stood out for two reasons:

UFC is a corporate‑sponsored fight entertainment brand, not ordinarily associated with presidential protocol or statecraft.

Seeing it displayed next to other books in the Oval Office suggested a deliberate cultural signal, whether aimed at promoting the upcoming event or connecting with audiences in unexpected ways.

Journalists and commentators seized on this detail not because it was profoundly consequential on its own, but because it underscored how unexpected and unconventional the meeting had been.

📌 2. Highlights the Unusual Tone of the Summit

The coffee‑table book anecdote reinforced how atypical this meeting was:

Just weeks earlier, the two sides had been trading intense political barbs.

Instead, the encounter was relaxed enough that Mamdani felt comfortable joking about what he was leafing through.

This shift — from confrontation to camaraderie — became a major point of analysis in political media. Some saw it as strategic pragmatism; others described the interaction as odd or revealing of broader political posturing.

🗣 Reactions From Both Sides

President Trump:

Praised Mamdani publicly after the meeting.

In a light‑hearted exchange, he even encouraged Mamdani to repeat his earlier comment about calling Trump a “fascist” rather than explain alternate terminology.

Zohran Mamdani:

Maintained in subsequent interviews that he still believes Trump embodies authoritarian tendencies, even as he engages with him constructively.

Focused public attention on policy topics rather than just the publicity moment.

Commentators & Critics:

Many commentators called the scene “bizarre” or “unexpected,” noting that such friendliness between two previously vocal opponents was historically unusual.

Some conservative voices argued the warm optics were overblown or strategically beneficial to both men