Washington: In a surprising display of cordiality, President Donald Trump adopted an unusually soft tone during his first official meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday, even brushing aside the progressive leader’s past criticisms — including repeatedly calling him a “fascist” during the campaign.
The unexpected moment unfolded when a reporter pressed Mamdani on whether he still agreed with his earlier characterisation. Before the mayor-elect could finish his response — “I’ve spoken about it…” — Trump jumped in, diffusing the tension with humour. “That’s okay. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind,” the president remarked, drawing attention for his unusually relaxed reaction.
Despite their sharp political clashes during the election season, both leaders presented a strikingly cooperative front after the Oval Office meeting. Trump described the conversation as “great and very productive,” adding that as a lifelong New Yorker he wanted Mamdani to succeed. “One thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” he said.
The president went even further, offering a rare bipartisan endorsement by suggesting Mamdani might exceed expectations once in office. “I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor. The better he does, the happier I am,” Trump said, emphasizing that partisan divides should not stand in the way of the city’s progress.
Standing alongside him, Mamdani echoed a tone of cooperation and highlighted the shared commitment to New York’s future. He told reporters the discussion was encouraging and centred on the challenges burdening city residents — especially the rising cost of living. “We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities,” Mamdani said, noting that making the city more affordable would be the defining priority of his administration.
