President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met in the Oval Office on Thursday for what both leaders described as a productive discussion.
“We’ve just had a great meeting, a really good, very productive meeting,” Trump said, standing alongside Mamdani.
What Donald Trump Said About Zohran Mamdani
Trump, speaking about the mayor-elect, suggested that Mamdani might reconsider some of his views.
“I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump remarked. He also noted that his own views “have changed” since entering public office. Mamdani, standing over Trump’s right shoulder, showed no visible reaction.
When pressed about his past criticism of Trump, including calling him a “fascist,” Mamdani began to respond, but Trump interjected: “That’s ok… You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining.”
The meeting marks a significant shift in tone between the two leaders, who have engaged in months of public attacks. Earlier this year, Trump threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if Mamdani were elected. Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1, 2026, had campaigned on addressing affordability and cost-of-living challenges in the city.
Donald Trump Said, Zohran Mamdani, Focus on Affordability
Mamdani told reporters the meeting focused on shared priorities for New Yorkers. “I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers,” he said. He emphasized the challenges facing the city’s 8.5 million residents, many of whom are struggling with rent, groceries, and utilities.
“We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities. We spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out,” Mamdani said, highlighting issues central to his campaign.
When Asked About Calling Donald Trump A Despot
Asked whether he would retract past remarks calling Trump a despot, Mamdani responded, “I think both President Trump and I, we are very clear about our positions and our views. What I really appreciate about the President is the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, but also on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers.”
He continued, “And frankly, that is something that could transform the lives of eight and a half million people who are currently struggling under a cost of living crisis, with one in four living in poverty. The meeting came back again and again to what it could look like to lift those New Yorkers out of struggle and start to deliver them a city that they could do more than just struggle to afford, but actually start to live in it.”
Trump, for his part, downplayed past criticisms from Mamdani, saying, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
