WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2025 — President Donald Trump offered an unexpectedly warm reception to New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House on Friday, marking a dramatic shift from the fierce exchanges that defined their campaign-season clashes.
Mamdani — a democratic socialist and relatively unknown state lawmaker before his upset win — requested the meeting to discuss affordability concerns and public safety in the nation’s largest city. Despite months of insults traded through the media, both leaders appeared relaxed and even complimentary as they met in the Oval Office.
“We agreed on a lot more than I anticipated,” Trump told reporters after inviting them into the room. “We love this city, and we both want it to succeed.”
Trump praised Mamdani’s victory, calling his mayoral campaign “incredible” and saying he defeated “very tough, very smart” opponents. Mamdani, standing beside the president, described the conversation as productive and focused on shared priorities for New York.
A Sudden Shift in Tone
Trump, who had spent months branding Mamdani as a “radical left lunatic,” a “communist,” and even a “Jew hater” — all without evidence — softened his rhetoric ahead of the meeting. Speaking on Fox News hours earlier, he admitted he “hit him a little hard” during the campaign and predicted a civil meeting.
Mamdani, for his part, campaigned on democratic socialist policies, not communism. Though critical of Israeli government actions, he has been endorsed by several Jewish leaders and has appointed Jewish officials, including incoming NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. He has repeatedly condemned antisemitism.
Putting Aside Bitter Feuds — For Now
Trump had previously threatened to strip federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won the election, even questioning the legality of Mamdani’s citizenship despite him being a naturalized American. Mamdani largely brushed off the threats, saying they were meant to intimidate but would not dissuade him from opposing harmful policies.
But Friday’s Oval Office moment showed a rare detente.
“The better he does, the happier I am,” Trump said.
Mamdani echoed that sentiment at a press conference before leaving New York:
“I have many disagreements with the president. But I will work with him on anything that helps New Yorkers — and I’ll be the first to oppose anything that hurts them.”
A Historic First for New York City
Born in Uganda, Mamdani will be New York City’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor. His energetic, social-media-driven campaign sparked a national conversation about the Democratic Party’s future direction at a time when its power in Washington is diminished and internal divisions are deep.
He has promised to aggressively tackle the city’s affordability crisis — from rent and groceries to childcare and transportation — as New Yorkers face some of the highest living costs in the country.
Tension Still Beneath the Surface
Though cordial on Friday, the two leaders have shown they can quickly revert to confrontation. Within hours of Mamdani’s victory earlier this month, he told supporters that defeating Trump’s agenda must begin in the city where Trump built his brand.
“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, urging Trump to “turn the volume up.”
Trump, asked about the remark, said he didn’t understand what Mamdani meant — and cautioned the mayor-elect to “be careful” making such statements.
The political opposites may have found temporary common ground on Friday, but their fragile truce could be tested as soon as Mamdani formally takes office on January 1.
