Highlights from Trump and Mamdani’s unexpectedly cordial meeting

US President Donald Trump met 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 turned out to be a celebration of praise.

The mayor, a self-described Democratic socialist, called Trump a “tyrant” during his victory speech.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting, a presidential spokesman described Mamdani’s visit as “communists coming to the White House.”

But the two struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone as they stood side by side in the Oval Office.

The two have repeatedly emphasized their mutual interest in solving New York City’s affordability crisis. They smiled often, and Trump even seemed amused when reporters asked about Mamdani’s political attacks on him.

The tone of the meeting seemed to catch political observers off guard, but sent a signal that both men understand that addressing the affordability crisis is critical to their political success.

It remains to be seen whether the truce will last once Mamdani takes office on January 1.

Until then, “I’m going to be cheering for him,” Trump said.

From the moment they began speaking to the media, the conciliatory tone was evident.

When facing the media after a private meeting, Mamdani stood to Trump’s right with clasped hands while the president sat behind the Resolute Desk. Their body language was relaxed – especially Trump’s.

Instead of attacking Mamdani, Trump repeatedly praised him.

Trump said he hoped Mamdani would become a “really great mayor.”

Later, the president added that he “believes he can do a good job.”

Mamdani and Trump went toe-to-toe with each other during the mayoral election. A reporter in the room reminded the two that Trump had called Mamdani a “communist” and Mamdani had called the president a “tyrant.”

But today, both men dodged multiple questions about their previous remarks and turned back to praise.

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

“It’s okay, you can say yes,” Trump interjected, patting Mamdani lightly on the arm and smiling. “It’s easier than explaining.”

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

Perhaps most notably, Trump dismissed an attack on Mamdani by one of his top political allies running for governor of New York.

“Do you think you’re standing next to a ‘jihadist’ in the Oval Office right now?” one reporter quoted Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik as asking.

“No, I don’t,” Trump said quickly.

“You sometimes say things on the campaign trail,” Trump said of Stefanik. “She’s a very capable person.”

Mamdani and Trump have something in common: They are both New Yorkers who call Queens home.

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

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

Although Trump rarely spends time in his namesake Manhattan skyscraper these days, he speaks fondly of his hometown during press conferences.

“This city is going to be incredible and I would be very happy if he could be a huge success,” Trump said.

Trump even said at one point that in a different political career, he wished he had been mayor of New York.

Part of the reason the two men were aligned Friday may be their shared focus on cost-of-living issues.

Trump won reelection last year by relentlessly addressing high inflation that will frustrate voters in 2024. Trump has sought to send a message of economic stability as consumers grow increasingly uneasy about the cost of groceries, housing and other necessities.

But Republicans struggled in elections earlier this month, with Democrats winning key races. All eyes are on next year’s midterm elections, when control of the U.S. Congress will be up for grabs.

During the campaign, Mamdani has focused heavily on the lack of affordable housing and proposed a freeze on rent increases for certain rent-stabilized apartments, among other housing proposals.

Mamdani said he and the president have discussed how to “make it affordable for New Yorkers.”

The mayor-elect brings the conversation back to the topic whenever asked about their differing views.

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

There are still some major political issues that could soon bring these two back into opposition.

A reporter asked about the possibility of federal immigration enforcement in the city, angering Democrats and some in New York’s immigrant community.

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

Trump said they discussed crime more than immigration.

“He doesn’t want to see crime, and I don’t want to see crime,” the president said. He had “no doubt” the pair would get along on the issue.

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

But as the Trump administration continues to set aggressive deportation goals, the two men are likely to be pitted against each other again.

Moreover, beyond the two countries and their specific policies, another underlying issue remains.

Republicans have signaled they hope to use Mamdani as a political foil in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, when control of the U.S. Congress will be on the ballot.

But while praising Mamdani in the Oval Office, the president said he believed the new mayor would “surprise some conservatives.”

That could complicate Trump’s own party’s strategy.