President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who once called himself 'Donald Trump's worst nightmare,' held a surprisingly warm and friendly meeting focused on shared goals for New York City, particularly affordability, despite their history of bitter public exchanges.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist previously dubbed a '100% Communist Lunatic' by Trump, met in the Oval Office in a remarkably cordial encounter. Despite their past animosity and Mamdani's strong criticisms of the Trump administration, both leaders expressed mutual respect and focused on shared objectives to improve New York City, especially concerning housing affordability and the cost of living. Trump, who had previously threatened to cut federal funds to the city, appeared impressed by Mamdani and even defended him against reporters' questions regarding past disparaging remarks. The meeting offered political opportunities for both: Mamdani gained a high-profile platform, while Trump demonstrated engagement with voter concerns over inflation. This surprising display of cooperation, contrasting sharply with their previous rhetoric and Trump's other contentious Oval Office meetings, centered on finding common ground for New Yorkers.
