In a striking display of political diplomacy, President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani set aside months of bitter rhetoric during a meeting at the White House. The two leaders pledged to work together for the future of New York City .
President Trump hosted the Democratic Socialist mayor-elect in the Oval Office for a discussion that lasted roughly forty-five minutes . Following their private talk, they spoke to reporters for nearly half an hour. Both men described the meeting as productive and focused on shared goals .
The encounter marked a dramatic shift in tone. During the mayoral campaign, President Trump repeatedly labeled Mamdani a communist and threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if he won . He endorsed Mamdani's rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo . For his part, Mamdani has called Trump a fascist and a despot .
Yet in the Oval Office, the atmosphere was conciliatory. I think you're going to have a really great mayor, President Trump told reporters. The better he does, the happier I am . He expressed his love for New York City and said there was no difference in party when it came to helping the city succeed .
Mayor-elect Mamdani echoed the positive tone. He said the conversation focused on a place of shared admiration and love, New York City . He stated he was looking forward to delivering for New Yorkers in partnership with the president on the affordability agenda .
Reporters sought to probe the clear contrast between their past attacks and current cooperation. When asked about his previous comments calling Trump a despot, Mamdani said the meeting focused on shared purpose rather than disagreement . Trump quickly added, I've been called much worse than a despot, so it's not that insulting .
Another reporter pressed Mamdani to confirm if he believed the president was a fascist. As Mamdani began to answer, Trump interjected with a smile. That's ok. You can just say yes, the president said, patting Mamdani on the arm. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind . Mamdani grinned and waved his hand, moving the conversation along .
The two leaders found common ground on several key issues for New York City. They discussed the high cost of living, a central theme of Mamdani's campaign . We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities, Mamdani said . President Trump specifically cited the need to address utility costs from Con Edison .
They also talked about public safety and housing. Trump noted Mamdani's decision to keep New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, calling it a good sign . The president's aides said he showed interest in finding a common sense approach to reduce burdens on housing development .
President Trump acknowledged that policy differences remain, specifically mentioning immigration enforcement. He said they spoke about the issue of deploying ICE agents in the city at length. Well, I think we're going to work them out, Trump said, expressing confidence that they both ultimately want a safe New York .
The president predicted that Mamdani, who he said has views that are a little out there, might change over time . He also said he thinks the mayor-elect will surprise some conservative people with his actions . I feel very confident that he can do a very good job, Trump stated .
In a personal note, President Trump, a native New Yorker, was asked if he would feel comfortable living in the city under a Mamdani administration. Yeah, I would, I really would, he responded. Especially after the meeting, absolutely . He added that they agree on a lot more than I would have thought .
The meeting represents a pivotal moment for Mayor-elect Mamdani. At thirty-four years old, he is set to become the youngest New York City mayor since 1892 and its first Muslim and first South Asian mayor . His victory was seen as an unlikely win for a left-wing grassroots movement .
His background is globally influenced. Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and holds dual Ugandan and American citizenship . His father is a prominent Ugandan academic of Indian descent and his mother is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker . He moved to New York City with his family at age seven .
Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor, helping low-income homeowners in Queens fight eviction . He also had a career as a musician, performing and producing rap music under the name Young Cardamom . He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 .
The positive meeting at the White House could signal a new phase of relations between the federal government and America's largest city. Both men expressed a hope for future cooperation. I want him to do a great job, and we'll help him do a great job, President Trump said .
As the press conference ended, Trump said he enjoyed the meeting and hopes to meet Mamdani again . The mayor-elect will be sworn into office on January 1, 2026 .