New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, marking a notable thaw after months of sharp political exchanges between the two leaders.
Affordability Agenda Takes Centre Stage
Both described the meeting as “productive”, with discussions focused on rising living costs in New York City.
“We’ve had a very productive meeting… We want this city to do very well,” Trump said.
Mamdani echoed the sentiment, highlighting conversations on rent, groceries, utility prices and displacement.
“I appreciated the president’s time. We discussed affordability and shared admiration for New York City,” he said.
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Tone Turns Friendly After Months of Hostility
The meeting was strikingly cordial, given their public friction. Trump has previously labelled Mamdani a “communist”, while Mamdani has criticised Trump’s immigration policies and branded him a “despot”.
Trump, however, praised Mamdani’s election victory, saying he had defeated “a lot of smart people” and that some of Mamdani’s economic views aligned with his own.
On Netanyahu Remarks and Policy Differences
Asked about Mamdani’s earlier comments on arresting Israeli PM Netanyahu if he visited New York, Trump responded, “He’s got views that are a little out there… but views change.”
Mamdani said the meeting focused on “shared purpose”, not disagreements.
Trump joked, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot.”
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Federal Funding, Immigration, Crime Discussed
Trump also softened previous threats to cut federal funding to New York, saying, “I expect to be helping him, not hurting him.”
They also discussed federal immigration enforcement and public safety.
Despite their past acrimony, both leaders signalled willingness to work together for New Yorkers.
