In a remarkable display of political diplomacy, former President Donald Trump welcomed New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to the Oval Office on Friday, creating an unexpectedly cordial atmosphere that defied their previous heated exchanges.
From Political Adversaries to Potential Partners
The highly anticipated meeting between the Republican former president and the democratic socialist mayor-elect proved far more constructive than many political observers had predicted. Both men appeared relaxed and optimistic about potential collaboration, setting aside their previous campaign trail animosity.
During the 2024 election cycle, Trump had labelled Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic" while urging voters to support his opponent, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. Meanwhile, Mamdani had described Trump as a "despot" and pledged to become the president's "worst nightmare." Yet none of this fiery rhetoric surfaced during their White House encounter.
Shared New York Roots Forge Common Ground
Trump, who has always maintained strong connections to his hometown, expressed genuine admiration for Mamdani's electoral achievement. The president praised the mayor-elect for running an "incredible race" against what he described as "very tough people."
"We have one thing in common – we want this city of ours that we love to do incredibly well," Trump told reporters during his opening remarks following the private discussion.
The former president seemed particularly impressed by Mamdani's political ascent, noting how the 34-year-old Democrat "came out of nowhere" to secure victory. Trump appeared flattered to learn that approximately one in ten of his own supporters had backed Mamdani in the Queens area.
Trump's Surprising Defence of His Political Opponent
In several revealing moments, Trump actively defended Mamdani from pointed questions posed by conservative journalists. When Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich pressed the mayor-elect about whether he still considered Trump a "fascist," the former president intervened with surprising good humour.
Trump jovially tapped Mamdani's arm and told him it was acceptable to simply answer "yes" rather than elaborate. "That's OK," Trump said, predicting the mayor-elect might reconsider his position once they began working together.
The former president similarly deflected questions about Mamdani's previous characterisation of him as a "despot," remarking that "I've been called much worse than a despot and so it's not that insulting."
Common Focus on Affordability Agenda
Both leaders identified addressing the cost of living crisis as a shared priority during their discussions. Mamdani, whose campaign successfully rallied New Yorkers around proposals to "freeze the rent" and create "fast and free" city buses, described the meeting as "productive" and focused on delivering affordability to New York residents.
Trump repeatedly committed to collaborating with the incoming mayor, even suggesting his administration would pressure utility company Con-Edison to lower electricity rates for millions of New York customers. The former Manhattan property developer also expressed support for Mamdani's housing construction ambitions.
"People would be shocked but I want to see the same thing," Trump remarked about building more apartments. "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job, and we'll help them do a great job."
The meeting concluded with both men expressing cautious optimism about their ability to work together, marking a significant departure from their previously adversarial relationship and potentially signalling a new chapter in New York City's political landscape.
