A surprisingly cordial meeting took place yesterday in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zahran Mamdani (Social Democrat). This is notable given the two men’s history of fierce public exchanges, including Trump’s own description of Mamdani as a ‘communist’ in the very post announcing the meeting.
However, the focus of their discussion centered on common ground: the affordability crisis and a shared desire to see New York City thrive. While the substance of the discussion was noteworthy, the overall tone of the meeting proved, in some respects, even more surprising. Both men appeared remarkably friendly, both in demeanor and in their brief remarks.
Trump repeatedly interjected to defend Mamdani against what he perceived as hostile questions from the press. He also expressed a paternal hope that a photograph of Mamdani standing next to a portrait of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt would ‘turn out well.’ The meeting between these ideologically disparate politicians has set social media ablaze.
Who were the biggest winners and losers, and what are the key takeaways from this encounter?
The Biggest Winner: Zahran Mamdani
By all accounts, this meeting represents a significant victory for the 34-year-old Mayor-elect. Mamdani achieved his primary objective: finding common ground with Trump without compromising his core principles. Trump’s earlier warnings about potentially withholding federal funding or deploying the National Guard now appear to be off the table – at least for the time being. Though, given the President’s volatile nature, predicting the future remains challenging.
For months, Mamdani’s political opponents and voices in right-wing media have attempted to portray him as a threat to established values. Trump, who himself previously participated in those attacks, effectively dismantled that narrative on Friday. ‘The better he does, the happier I am,’ Trump stated at the beginning of their remarks to reporters.
When asked if he would feel comfortable living in New York City under Mamdani’s leadership, Trump replied: ‘Yes, I would. Absolutely. Especially after this meeting.’
