WASHINGTON D.C.—Despite frequent criticisms and ideological differences, from both sides, President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani found common ground during a meeting at the Oval Office Friday, where the two discussed affordability and safety in New York City.
A screenshot of the live broadcast, by ABC News, of President Trump and New York City-elect Zohran Mamdani’s meeting Friday.
Throughout Mamdani’s campaign he frequently called the President a “despot,” a “fascist”, and an “authoritarian.” Trump, on the other hand, has called Mamdani a “Communist lunatic.”
Mamdani has denied claims, mainly from conservatives, that he is a communist consistently correcting that he is a “Democratic Socialist.”
Still, despite these differences, the two appeared cordial Friday and found common ground ultimately lining up with the ultimate well-being of New Yorkers, something Mamdani has said he is willing work with President Trump to ensure.
“We had an interesting conversation and some of his ideas are really some of the ideas that I have,” said President Trump on Mamdani Friday.
During the press conference that followed that discussion, Mamdani was asked by a Reporter if he still believed the President was a “fascist.” Mamdani smiled nervously at first and began to answer but President Trump interrupted him and said “it’s okay you can say it. It’s easier than explaining it.” The two then quickly moved on to the next question.
“I think there are many things in our city where we have to own responsibility for it, things that existed long before the President was the President. Part of the message of our campaign was to take upon a broken politics of the past, and I ran against a number of candidates who represented different versions of that past,” said Mamdani. “What we found, time and time again, is that working people were continually left behind in the politics of our city. What we’re looking to do is put those people back in the heart of those politics so we don’t have a situation where we’re the wealthiest city in the history of the world and yet one and five can’t afford $2.90 for a metro card.”
Trump agreed with Mamdani on this point as just one example of how the two found common ground Friday, saying affordability is a big concern for American citizens, especially the cost of goods – including groceries. Trump blamed the Biden administration for this, saying the inflation under his administration was off the charts.
Trump, born-and-raised in the New York City borough of Queens, with several properties throughout the city, said he ultimately agrees with Mamdani on ensuring New York City is safe and affordable. He did admit, however, that the two “disagree on how to get there.”
“I love New York City, it’s where I came from, I spent a lot of years there, we took a big step back from the man that we had, but I think this Mayor can do some things that could be really great,” said Trump.
Trump said that he, ultimately, would feel comfortable living in a Mamdani-run New York City.
The two discussed ICE and immigration enforcement, housing developments, property tax reform, with foreign policy questions directed at Trump and more New York, and platform-specific, questions directed towards Mamdani.
A peace deal was signed between Israel and Palestine back in October.
For example, Mamdani was asked about his accusing the American government of committing genocide by funding the Israeli government in their relentless siege of Gaza. However, Mamdani dodges this question saying the concern revolves around tax dollars feeding into war, when the focus of New York tax dollars should go towards benefiting the New York public in regard to affording food, rent, and other basic human rights.
Trump came to Mamdani’s defense and rejected some’s accusations – mainly by Republican Elise Stefanik – that he is a “jihadist.”
President Trump that the meeting Friday between Mamdani was crowded by the press more so than other guests he had, saying he’s hat “some of the world’s biggest and most powerful people visit and nobody cared,” but when Mamdani visited hundreds of Reporters were lined up outside the Oval Office hoping to get inside.
In concluding their meeting Friday Trump said that Mamdani is going to be a “great leader for the city” of New York and that he is sure to “surprise some conservatives.”
The President continued that the two will, no-doubt, have disagreements on policy over the two’s terms
On the other hand, Mamdani, who has been a longstanding critique of the President, left feeling optimistic that him, and the President, were on the same page as far as ensuring New Yorkers don’t have to worry about basic needs, such as food and rent.