President Trump Meets NYC Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani in Surprisingly Warm Exchange:

In a meeting that drew far more media attention than many of his engagements with world leaders, United States President Donald Trump on Friday met with newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani — a man he has repeatedly attacked in the past. Despite months of mutual criticism, the atmosphere inside the Oval Office appeared unexpectedly cordial, even warm, as both leaders stressed their shared commitment to improving life in America’s largest city. Trump, who had previously labeled Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and a “total nut job,” struck an entirely different tone after their face-to-face interaction. Speaking to reporters, the President praised the Democrat’s intentions and governing style, suggesting that Mamdani’s leadership may defy expectations among conservatives. “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump said. He also emphasized that he would support the mayor’s efforts to make New York “strong and safe.” For Mamdani, a progressive figure who once boasted about being Trump’s “worst nightmare,” the meeting served as a chance to reset the tone. Standing beside the President, he said he appreciated Trump’s willingness to focus not on their disagreements but on the “shared purpose” of “serving New Yorkers.” Mamdani added that the conversation centered on the needs of the city’s working class and the challenges of affordability — issues he said have long been overlooked. The two leaders also addressed previous incendiary political remarks made about Mamdani, including a recent comment from Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who called the mayor a “jihadist.” Trump swiftly dismissed the attack, chalking it up to campaign rhetoric. “You say things sometimes in a campaign,” he said, adding that Stefanik is a “capable person” but suggesting the comment was not reflective of his own view. He stressed that his impression of Mamdani was of a “very rational” leader who “really wants to see New York be great again.” During the exchange, reporters pressed both men about past insults they had hurled at each other. At one point, a journalist asked Mamdani whether he still considered Trump a “fascist,” a term he had used previously. Before Mamdani could answer, Trump interjected with a surprising quip: “That’s okay, you can say it.” Mamdani responded affirmatively, while Trump shrugged it off, joking that agreeing was easier than explaining. The moment, punctuated by Trump giving the mayor an affable pat on the arm, underscored the unusual tone of the meeting — tense topics met with unexpected levity. Mamdani used the platform to highlight the economic struggles faced by many New Yorkers. He said that working-class residents had been “left behind” by the city’s politics and that his administration aimed to “put those people right back at the heart of our politics.” Emphasizing affordability, he pointed out that “one in five” New Yorkers cannot afford a $2.90 subway or bus fare — a statistic he argued should be unacceptable in “the wealthiest city in the world.” Trump signaled agreement, remarking that some of Mamdani’s ideas were “really the same ideas that I have.” When asked whether he would feel comfortable living again in New York City — once his longtime home — under Mamdani’s leadership, Trump responded without hesitation: “Yeah, I would. Especially after the meeting, absolutely.” The meeting, which attracted a large crowd of reporters and onlookers outside the White House, ended with both leaders expressing satisfaction. Trump noted that the press had “eaten this thing up,” calling it one of the most widely watched interactions he has had in recent months. Mamdani, for his part, said the discussion was “productive” and grounded in the shared goal of strengthening New York.

NEWS