Mamdani and Trump, affectionately, meet face to face

After months of trading criticism, tough talk and not so thinly veiled threats, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump came out of their first meeting striking a surprisingly civil tone. At times, it was even complimentary. 

“I expect to be helping him, not hurting him,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after a private meeting Friday afternoon that lasted under an hour. “Because I want New York City to be great.”

Two very different New Yorkers, Mamdani and Trump are about as far apart ideologically as it gets. But addressing reporters from the Oval Office, the two men were disciplined in focusing on what they stated was their greatest common ground: wanting the best for New York City. “We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” Trump said sitting behind the Resolute desk, as Mamdani stood by his side. 

“I think both President Trump and I, we are very clear about our positions and our views, and what I really appreciate about the president is the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. 

There has been a lot riding on Friday’s much-anticipated meeting, which could set the tone for the city’s future in the years to come. Regardless of Mamdani’s upstart victories in the mayoral race and his growing star power, Trump has a great power advantage over the 34-year-old democratic socialist. Ever since Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary, the president’s threats have been both personal and sweeping. Not only has he vowed to send the National Guard into the city and to withhold billions in federal funding – he’s also threatened to arrest Mamdani and questioned his immigration status. Mamdani spent much of Thursday preparing for what would be his first pivotal meeting on the national stage, holding calls with Gov. Kathy Houchul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Rev. Al Sharpton, CNN reported.

Up to this point, tensions have loomed large. Trump has falsely called Mamdani a communist, “a total nut job,” and claimed that he would destroy the city. Mamdani in turn has called the Trump administration “authoritarian,” and spent much of his mayoral campaign vowing to stand up to the president. “Since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!” Mamdani said at his victory party earlier this month, making a direct appeal to the president. 

Yet it was Mamdani’s commanding victory – and his populist message – that Trump shared admiration for on Friday. He acknowledged that he and Mamdani share voters who felt isolated in mainstream politics: “I'm OK with that,” Trump said of his voters who cast votes for Mamdani. He also congratulated Mamdani on his victory in the general election – in which he offered a late endorsement of Mamdani’s opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor. The better he does, the happier I am,” Trump said Friday.

On Friday, both resisted questions that raised their past heated rhetoric. Asked if he considered Trump a fascist, Mamdani began to answer and Trump stepped in – essentially saving him from answering an awkward question. “It’s OK, you can just say yes,” Trump said. “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Both had indicated they were open to finding common ground in the lead up to Friday. Mamdani told reporters Thursday that he viewed the meeting as an opportunity to make the case for his affordability-centered agenda. “As I will be the next mayor of the city, it behooves me to ensure that I leave no stone unturned in looking to make the city more affordable,” he said. 

“I think we’ll get along fine,” Trump said, striking a more conciliatory tone during a Fox News Radio interview Friday morning. “Look, we’re looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong.”