Takeaways from Trump and Mamdani’s surprisingly cordial meeting

US President Donald Trump met with New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, at the White House in what was billed as the political showdown of the year, but instead turned into a praise fest.

The mayor, who describes himself as a Democratic socialist, called Trump a “tyrant” in his election victory speech.

And before Friday’s meeting, the president’s spokesman had heralded Mamdani’s visit as “a communist coming to the White House.”

But standing side by side in the Oval Office, the two men spoke in surprisingly conciliatory tones.

Both men have repeatedly emphasized their shared interest in finding solutions to New York City’s affordability crisis. They smiled often, and Trump even appeared amused when reporters asked him about the political attacks Mamdani had leveled.

The tone of the meeting appeared to catch political observers off guard, but it signaled that both men understood that tackling the economic crisis was critical to their political success.

It is not yet known whether the ceasefire will continue after Mamdani takes office on January 1.

Until then, Trump said, “I will support him.”

The conciliatory tone was clearly visible from the moment they started speaking to the press.

Facing the media after a private meeting, Mamdani stood with clasped hands to Trump’s right as the President sat behind the Resolute Table. Their body language was relaxed, especially Trump.

Not only did Trump refrain from attacking Mamdani, he praised her repeatedly.

Trump expressed hope that Mamdani would be “a truly great mayor.”

The president later added that he was “confident he can do a very good job.”

Mamdani and Trump traded political barbs throughout the mayoral election. A reporter in the room reminded the two men that Trump had referred to Mamdani as a “communist” and that Mamdani had referred to the president as a “tyrant.”

But today both left unanswered many questions about their previous statements and returned to the praise.

Trump even allowed Mamdani to answer the mayor-elect’s question about whether he thought the president was a “fascist.”

“It’s okay, you can just say yes,” Trump interjected, patting Mamdani on the arm and smiling. “Easier to explain.”

The closest Trump came to criticizing Mamdani’s politics was telling reporters, “She has very few opinions.”

Perhaps most strikingly, Trump sidestepped an attack on Mamdani by one of his most important political allies, who is running for governor of New York.

“Do you think you’re standing next to a ‘jihadist’ in the oval office right now?” a reporter asked, quoting Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

Trump quickly said, “No, I don’t know.”

“Sometimes in a campaign you say things,” Trump said of Stefanik. “He’s a very talented person.”

Mamdani and Trump have something in common: they are both New Yorkers and both call the Queens area home.

Trump’s childhood home is near Jamaica Estates, while Mamdani currently lives in Astoria.

Mamdani said the two had a “shared love” for the city.

Although Trump rarely spends time in the Manhattan skyscraper that bears his name these days, he spoke fondly of his hometown throughout the press conference.

“This city could be incredible, and if it could be a spectacular success, I would be very happy,” Trump said.

At one point, Trump even suggested that, in a different political life, he too would have wanted to be mayor of New York.

Perhaps one of the reasons the two men showed up at the same time Friday was their shared focus on cost-of-living issues.

Trump was re-elected last year by relentlessly addressing the problem of high inflation that frustrated voters in 2024. As consumers grew uneasy about the cost of food, housing and other basic needs, Trump sought to convey a message of economic stability.

But in elections earlier this month, Republicans struggled and Democrats won key races. All eyes are on next year’s midterm elections, which will take control of the US Congress.

During the election campaign, Mamdani focused on the lack of affordable housing and proposed freezing rent increases on some rent-stabilized apartments, among other housing proposals.

Mamdani said he and the president discussed “how we can offer an affordable price to New Yorkers.”

Whenever he was asked about his differing views, the mayor-elect would bring the conversation back to that topic.

Facing a question about his differing views on achieving peace in the Middle East, Mamdani said Trump voters had expressed to him their desire to “end wars forever” and for leaders to address the “cost of living crisis.”

There remain significant political issues that could quickly bring the two men back into opposition.

A reporter asked about the potential for federal immigration enforcement in the city, which has angered Democrats and some immigrant communities in New York.

Mamdani said he discussed federal immigration enforcement operations in New York and residents’ concerns about how those operations are being conducted.

Trump said they discussed crime rather than immigration.

“He doesn’t want to see crime, and I don’t want to see crime,” the president said. He had “little doubt” the two would agree on the issue.

Trump even surprisingly said that he would feel safe living in New York under Mamdani’s leadership.

But as the Trump administration continues to set aggressive deportation targets, it’s possible the two men may become at loggerheads once again.

There is also another potential problem beyond the duo and their specific policies.

Republicans have hinted they want to use Mamdani as a political foil in the 2026 midterm elections, when control of the US Congress will be up for grabs.

But the president, who praised Mamdani in the Oval Office, said he believed the new mayor would “surprise some conservative people.”

This could complicate the strategy of Trump’s own political party.