'That's when the teeth come out': Michael Cohen reveals how Trump could turn on Mamdani
21 November
CNN host Kaitlan Collins and former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen on CNN on November 21, 2025 (Image: Screegrab via CNN / YouTube)
President Donald Trump hosted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office on Friday, where the two had an unpredictably amicable photo-op and press conference.
That meeting caught many Republicans off guard, though Michael Cohen – who was Trump's longtime personal attorney and fixer for more than a decade – told CNN host Kaitlan Collins that he expected the president to embrace Mamdani. He observed that one of Trump's strengths is disarming potential opponents with friendship – only to pivot and become an enemy once they do something he dislikes.
"I alwaysknew that they were going to endup getting together in the Oval," Cohen said. "And Donald Trump has the abilityto be incredibly personable. Imean, how many times have youheard people turn around aftermeeting with Donald Trump, say, 'you know, I thought that hewould be different ... Ididn't think that it was goingto go as well as it did.' Hecould be very charming when hewants to."
"But, when the timecomes, if in fact, that thingshappen that, let's say Trumpdoes not approve of and itbecomes a fight, well, thenthat's when the teeth come outand Trump will fight tooth andnail in order to get his pointof view and to get his positionacross," he added.
Mamdani has pledged as mayor to oppose the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in the Big Apple, and said earlier this week that under his leadership, the city would end its cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that incumbent Mayor Eric Adams began earlier this year. And in Mamdani's victory speech earlier this month, he vowed to end the "culture of corruption" In New York City that "gave rise to" Trump. Cohen observed that MAGA Republicans like Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) — who has used Mamdani as a foil in her campaign for next year's gubernatorial election in the Empire State – are likely not happy with Trump's embrace of the self-described Democratic socialist mayor.
If you're a Donald Trump MAGA supporter, you'reobviously very angry," Cohen said. "As a New Yorker, I keep trying to say topeople, let's let'sjust take a step back here.Let's give the guy a chance. Hewon the election. He is going tobe the mayor of New York. Let'stake a step back."
Watch the segment below: