President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani met in the Oval Office on Friday and described their first face‑to‑face encounter as productive, striking a notably friendly tone despite months of heated political exchanges. Both men highlighted shared priorities around housing costs and affordability in New York City, even as deep ideological differences remain.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani met Friday in the Oval Office, marking their first in‑person meeting after months of highly public clashes. Public radio reports note that the White House session followed weeks of fiery rhetoric between the two men, with Mamdani later characterizing the conversation as "productive." According to NPR, the meeting was requested by Mamdani's team, which reached out to the White House to discuss making life more affordable for New Yorkers.
Mamdani, a 34‑year‑old democratic socialist from Queens, won the mayoralty after an upset victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June's Democratic primary and then defeating him again in the general election, as detailed by multiple national outlets. Trump, who was born in Queens, has repeatedly tried to portray Mamdani as too radical for New York City and has labeled him a "communist" in social media posts and public remarks, even though Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist.
Before the election, Trump endorsed Mamdani's rival, Andrew Cuomo. The Independent and other outlets reported that Trump urged voters to back Cuomo and warned he was skeptical of sending federal funds to New York if Mamdani won. Coverage from The Washington Post and other national news organizations has similarly noted that Trump threatened to cut or withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani became mayor.
Despite that history, Friday's meeting was striking for its cordial tone. According to accounts from The Washington Post, Reuters and Time, Trump praised Mamdani's focus on affordability and housing and suggested the mayor‑elect could end up surprising some conservatives. Trump referred to Mamdani respectfully as "Mr. Mayor" and indicated he expected to be helping, not hurting, the incoming administration in New York. Several outlets noted that Trump even said he would feel comfortable living in New York again under Mamdani's leadership.
Reporters present in the Oval Office described an easy rapport between the two Queens‑raised politicians, with Trump repeatedly defending Mamdani as he took pointed questions from the press. The Washington Post reported that Trump emphasized their shared interest in seeing more housing built and in addressing the city's high cost of living. Reuters likewise highlighted that the two men focused on economic issues and affordability rather than more divisive topics such as foreign policy.
Public radio coverage of the encounter said Mamdani called the discussion "productive" and framed it around a shared "admiration and love" for New York City and a commitment to making it more affordable for its more than 8.5 million residents. In earlier comments ahead of the meeting, quoted by NPR member stations, Mamdani said his team had reached out to the White House because he was willing to work with anyone to lower the cost of living in the city.
Both leaders have previously used sharply critical language about one another. Trump has repeatedly labeled Mamdani a "communist" and, in some instances, a "communist lunatic," according to reporting by The Washington Post and other outlets. Mamdani, for his part, has at times referred to Trump as a "fascist" or "despot" on the campaign trail, The Washington Post has reported. During Friday's Oval Office appearance, however, Trump downplayed the earlier jab, saying he had been called worse and treating the remark lightly when pressed by reporters.
The Oval Office conversation appeared to steer away from some of the most contentious policy disputes, including specific immigration enforcement tactics. Reuters reported that the two focused primarily on economic concerns, such as housing and the rising cost of living, though their longstanding disagreements over immigration and law enforcement remained in the background.
Mamdani's mayoral platform, as summarized by his campaign materials and major news profiles, centers on affordability measures such as a rent freeze in rent‑stabilized housing, free city buses, city‑owned grocery stores to lower food prices, universal child care and higher taxes on corporations and high‑income earners. He has also called for significant investment in affordable housing and public safety reforms. Those proposals have drawn support from progressive activists and skepticism from conservatives and some centrist Democrats, who argue they go too far.
While Friday's meeting suggests a temporary thaw, it remains unclear how durable the detente will be. Trump continues to criticize aspects of Mamdani's left‑wing agenda, and Mamdani has maintained strong opposition to many of Trump's national policies, particularly on immigration. Analysts quoted by The Washington Post and Reuters say the session nonetheless underscored how both men see political benefit in presenting themselves as willing to cooperate on pocketbook issues, even as their broader ideological divide persists.
