In a remarkable display of political détente, former President Donald Trump welcomed New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to the Oval Office on Friday, transforming what many anticipated would be a combustible confrontation into a surprisingly cooperative dialogue.
From Political Adversaries to Potential Partners
The meeting between the Republican former president and the democratic socialist mayor-elect defied expectations, with both men appearing relaxed and optimistic about potential collaboration. This marked a dramatic shift from their previous campaign rhetoric, where Trump had labelled Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic" while Mamdani had denounced Trump as a "despot" and pledged to become his "worst nightmare".
Instead of reviving these heated exchanges, the two New Yorkers focused on their shared connection to America's largest city and their mutual desire to see it prosper. "We have one thing in common – we want this city of ours that we love to do incredibly well," Trump told reporters during opening remarks following their private discussion.
Trump's Unexpected Defence of Mamdani
Throughout the press availability, Trump repeatedly came to Mamdani's defence when conservative journalists pressed the mayor-elect on his previous criticisms of the former president. When asked if he would retract his characterisation of Trump as a "despot", Mamdani offered a diplomatic response about focusing on shared purposes rather than disagreements.
Before the reporter could press further, Trump interjected: "I've been called much worse than a despot and so it's not that insulting." Later, when Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich asked whether Mamdani still considered Trump a "fascist", the former president again intervened, jovially tapping Mamdani's arm and telling him it was acceptable to simply say yes.
Trump even defended Mamdani against criticism for flying to Washington rather than taking the more environmentally-friendly train, stating "I'll stick up for you" and arguing that flying was considerably faster for the busy mayor-elect.
Common Ground on New York's Future
The discussion revealed unexpected areas of agreement, particularly around addressing New York's affordability crisis. Mamdani, whose campaign rallied behind calls to "freeze the rent" and make city buses "fast and free", described the meeting as "productive" and said they had discussed soaring costs of rent, groceries, and utilities.
Trump repeatedly committed to working with the new mayor, suggesting his administration would pressure utility company Con-Edison to lower rates and expressing support for building more housing. "He wants to see a lot of houses created, a lot of apartments built, et cetera," said Trump, the former Manhattan developer. "People would be shocked but I want to see the same thing."
In a notable moment, Trump dismissed Republican attacks on Mamdani, including characterisations by New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik that labelled the mayor-elect a "jihadist". Trump described Mamdani as "a very rational person" who "really wants New York to be great again."
The Queens-born billionaire, now officially a Florida resident, also declared he would "absolutely" live in New York City under Mayor Mamdani's administration, countering conservative warnings about a billionaire exodus from the city.
This unexpected political truce between former adversaries suggests both men recognise the practical necessity of cooperation in addressing New York's pressing challenges, setting the stage for a potentially productive relationship that defies their previous political posturing.
