US President Donald Trump has said he believes New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani “could do a very good job” during their first in-person meeting at the White House. The rare encounter between the political opposites came after months of contentious public exchanges, with Trump and Mamdani finally sitting down to discuss pressing urban issues like cost-of-living and public safety.
At the meeting, Trump expressed a shift in his stance, stating, “Some of my views have changed… I feel very confident that he can do a very good job.” He also anticipated that Mamdani might “surprise some conservative people” with his approach to governance. The mayor-elect, a democratic socialist and little-known state lawmaker, had requested the meeting to focus on affordability and safety in New York City.
Despite Trump’s earlier accusations that Mamdani was a “communist lunatic,” the two leaders found common ground on their shared love for the city. Trump remarked, “We agreed on a lot more than I thought… We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well.” Mamdani added, “It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers.”
Mamdani’s victory in the heavily Democratic city earlier this month came despite fierce opposition from conservatives and little enthusiasm from mainstream Democrats. Trump had predicted that his policies would push New Yorkers to flee the city for Miami. However, the meeting suggests a potential thaw in their adversarial relationship, as both leaders expressed openness to collaboration on key urban challenges.
As Mamdani surged in the polls to victory, Trump issued threats to strip federal funding from the city. The mayor-elect has consistently criticized various policies put forth by Trump, particularly those aimed at increasing federal immigration enforcement in New York City, where nearly 40% of the population is foreign-born.