What was supposed to be a political clash turned into something closer to a buddy comedy.
When US President Donald Trump met New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani—who’d called him a “despot” just weeks ago—you’d expect fireworks.
Instead? Smiles. Compliments. And a surprising amount of agreement.
Trump’s team hyped the meeting as a “communist coming to the White House,” but the vibe inside the Oval Office was almost warm.
Both men zeroed in on one issue: New York’s affordability crisis.
Trump said he hoped Mamdani would be a “really great mayor,” even jokingly nudging him when a reporter pressed about calling the president a fascist.
Unexpected Political Détente
Reporters tried to steer them back into conflict—jihadist accusations, ideological differences, campaign insults.
But both kept returning to shared concerns: rent, crime, and the cost of living.
As Mamdani put it, they discussed how to “deliver affordability to New Yorkers.”
Their Queens roots didn’t hurt either.Trump reminisced about his hometown, saying he’d be “very happy” if Mamdani succeeds.
And he even claimed he’d feel safe living in Mamdani’s New York.
The real twist? This unexpected friendliness could throw off Republicans who planned to use Mamdani as their next political villain heading into 2026.
Politics is unpredictable—but even by Washington standards, this détente was one for the books.
