President Donald Trump welcomed New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to the White House on Friday in a meeting that quickly turned from political theater into an unexpectedly cordial exchange.Just weeks ago, Trump had called the 34-year-old democratic socialist “a communist” and threatened to withhold federal funds from the city.
On Friday, however, the president greeted Mamdani with a handshake and a pat on the arm, telling reporters afterward, “We actually agree on a lot more than people would think.”The two men said they found common ground on tackling street crime and building more affordable housing—two issues that dominated Mamdani’s upset victory over establishment Democrats last month.“I want him to do well,” Trump said.
“If he does a great job, maybe I’ll even move back to New York.”Mamdani, who takes office in January, kept his remarks brief but positive. “It was a productive conversation,” he told reporters outside the West Wing. “We talked about lowering the cost of living and keeping New Yorkers safe.”Neither man revisited their earlier insults. Trump brushed off a question about once labeling Mamdani “the communist mayor,” and Mamdani declined to repeat his own post-election description of Trump as a “despot.”
The meeting lasted roughly 45 minutes and included a short photo line in the Oval Office. Trump said he would keep current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role at Mamdani’s request and hinted at possible federal help with infrastructure projects.
Outside the White House gates, a small group of protesters waved signs about immigration enforcement and economic inequality, underscoring the ideological gap the two leaders had momentarily set aside.
As Mamdani left, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Great meeting with Zohran today — NYC is going to be fantastic again!”The sudden thaw caught many Republicans by surprise and left political observers wondering how long the détente will last.
