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Five key moments from Trump’s surprisingly cordial meeting with Zohran Mamdani
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Five key moments from Trump’s surprisingly cordial meeting with Zohran Mamdani

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US President Donald Trump has warmly greeted the new mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, at the White House.
Trump praised the election victory of democratic socialist Mamdani after the first face-to-face meeting between the political opposites, who have clashed over everything from immigration to economic policy.
After months of insults and insults in the media, the mayor-elect and the president appeared to put aside their differences and quickly build a rapport in the Oval Office — a setting that Trump sometimes has. used to embarrass heads of state.
“We agreed on a lot more than I thought,” Trump said after inviting reporters to the Oval Office following a private meeting.
“We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours, which we love so much, to do very well.”

Here are five key moments when Trump and Mamdani found common ground.

1. Mamdani is not a ‘jihadist’

Among the criticisms leveled at Mamdani by Trump’s allies was Republican Elise Stefanik’s baseless and racially divisive claim that Mamdani is a “jihadist communist.”
Stefanik is campaigning for governor of New York in next year’s state elections.

Mamdani stood next to a seated Trump at his desk and watched as Stefanik’s comments were brought up by a reporter.

“Republican Elise Stefanik has campaigned several times by calling Zohran Mamdani a jihadist. Do you think you are standing next to a jihadist?”
Trump responded: “No, I don’t.”
“She’s out there campaigning, and during a campaign you sometimes say things,” he continued.

“I met a man who is a very rational person. I met a man who really wants to see New York great again.”

2. Trump doesn’t mind being called a “fascist.”

In one of the most surreal moments of the press conference, Mamdani was asked by a reporter about previous comments calling Trump a fascist, and whether he supports them.
Mamdani began to answer before he was quickly interrupted by Trump.

‘That’s okay. You can just say yes.’

“Okay, okay,” Zohran replied with a smile as reporters chuckled.

Trump then laughed and patted Mamdani on the arm, saying, “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

3. Some of the “same” ideas about affordability

Despite Trump threatening to strip federal funds and send the National Guard to New York As Mamdani rose in the polls, Trump quickly found common ground with Mamdani’s vision for a more affordable New York.
“What we found over and over again is that working people were left behind in the politics of our city,” Mamdani told reporters.

“What we want to do is put these people back at the heart of politics so that we don’t end up in a situation where we’re in the richest city in the history of the world and yet one in five can’t even afford $2.90 for a MetroCard,” he said, referring to the card used to pay for public transportation in New York City.

Trump – who once described Mamdani as a “radical left-wing lunatic” – added that they had a “very interesting conversation” and that some of Mamdani’s ideas were “actually the same ideas I have.”

“A big thing on the cost front, you know, the new word is affordability. Another word is just groceries. And it’s an old-fashioned word, but it’s very accurate.”

4. Trump is said to live in Mamdani’s New York

Mamdani’s promises to freeze rents on rent-stabilized units and raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent of the city’s residents had previously drawn criticism from Trump.
After Mamdani’s victory, Trump noted that he felt wealthy New Yorkers would flee the city in favor of Florida to escape Mamdani’s policies.
At the press conference, Trump appeared to have changed his mind.

“Would you feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani government?” a reporter asked the president.

“Yes, I would, I really would,” Trump replied.
“Especially after the meeting, absolutely.”
The reporter asked what made Trump feel more comfortable.

“We agree on a lot more than I thought. I want him to do a great job, and I will help him do a great job,” Trump said.

5. It’s fine to fly from New York to Washington

Before the meeting, Mamdani posted a selfie on social media aboard a flight from New York to Washington DC, two cities about 250 miles apart.
During the press conference, Mamdani was asked by a reporter why he took the plane instead of the “greener” option of a train.

Mamdani used it as an opportunity to promote his plan to make taking the bus in New York City free.

“I will use any form of public transportation and I want to make sure they are all affordable in New York City,” he said.
Trump then defended Mamdani, saying, “If he flew, that’s a lot faster too. You know, he works very hard, that’s a very long ride.”
— With additional reporting by Reuters.

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