Trump and Mamdani Find Common Ground in Surprising White House Meeting Despite Political Differences

President Donald Trump met with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at Oval Office, Friday.

Washington:

US President Donald Trump welcomed incoming New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani to the White House on Friday, offering praise for Mamdani's electoral victory during their first face-to-face meeting. The political opposites, who have previously clashed on issues ranging from immigration to economic policy, appeared to find common ground during their discussion.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist and previously little-known state lawmaker who recently won New York's mayoral race, had requested the meeting to discuss cost-of-living concerns and public safety issues affecting New Yorkers.

Despite months of exchanging sharp criticisms through media channels, the mayor-elect and the president seemed to establish a cordial rapport in the Oval Office, a setting Trump has occasionally used for confrontational meetings with foreign dignitaries.

"We agreed on a lot more than I thought," Trump remarked after inviting journalists into the Oval Office following their private discussion. "We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well."

Seated at his desk, Trump looked up at Mamdani, who stood beside the president, and congratulated him on his mayoral victory: "He really ran an incredible race against some very tough people, very smart people."

Mamdani described the encounter positively, stating: "It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers."

Trump expressed willingness to set aside partisan differences, saying, "The better he does the happier I am."

As Mamdani's campaign gained momentum toward victory, Trump, a Republican, had threatened to withdraw federal funding from America's largest city. The mayor-elect has consistently opposed various Trump policies, particularly plans to intensify federal immigration enforcement in New York City, where 40 percent of residents are foreign-born.

The 79-year-old president, formerly a New York resident, had previously labeled Mamdani, 34, as a "radical left lunatic," a communist, and "Jew hater," without providing evidence for these characterizations.

Mamdani advocates for Nordic-style democratic socialism, not communism. Though a vocal critic of Israel, he received endorsements from prominent Jewish politicians, is appointing Jewish staff members to his administration—notably New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch—and has consistently denounced antisemitism.

Trump moderated his rhetoric Friday before the mayor-elect's arrival, predicting their meeting would be "quite civil" and commending Mamdani for his "successful run."

"I was hitting him a little hard," Trump acknowledged on "The Brian Kilmeade Show" on Fox News. "I think we'll get along fine. Look, we're looking for the same thing: we want to make New York strong."

Earlier that day, Mamdani posted a smiling selfie on social media from his plane seat en route to Washington.

Trump's Oval Office meetings have been notably unpredictable, ranging from respectful exchanges with opponents to uncomfortable confrontations with guests like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mamdani, who takes office as mayor on January 1, stated at a press conference the day before his Washington trip that he had "many disagreements with the president."

"I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers," he told reporters outside New York's City Hall. "If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so."

TRUMP THINKS MAMDANI WAS 'VERY NICE' IN CALLING HIM

Uganda-born Mamdani will become the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of the city that houses Wall Street. His energetic, social media-savvy campaign sparked debate about optimal strategies for Democrats. Currently out of power in Washington and divided ideologically, Democrats are primarily united in their opposition to Trump, who cannot constitutionally seek another term in 2028.

Mamdani promised to address affordability challenges, including housing costs, grocery prices, childcare expenses, and public transportation in a city of 8.5 million residents. New Yorkers currently pay nearly twice the national average for rent.

Inflation remains a significant concern for Americans and represents an issue on which they give Trump poor ratings. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week, only 26% of Americans believe Trump is effectively managing the cost of living.

The US federal government is providing $7.4 billion to New York City in fiscal year 2026, representing approximately 6.4% of the city's total expenditures, according to a New York State Comptroller report. It remains unclear what legal authority Trump might invoke to withhold any funding mandated by Congress.

The two leaders resumed their verbal sparring within hours of Mamdani's election victory.

"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," Mamdani declared to cheering supporters in his victory speech, challenging Trump to "turn the volume up."

Trump expressed confusion about Mamdani's speech after hearing excerpts during Friday morning's Fox News interview.

"I don't know exactly what he means by 'turning the volume up.' He has to be careful when he says that to me," Trump said. "He was very nice in calling, as you know, and we're going to have a meeting."