WATCH: Trump, Mamdani meeting cordial with leaders finding common ground

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

After pelting each other with political insults over the course of several months, President Donald Trump and New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appeared to have a cordial meeting at the White House.

The Democratic socialist mayor-elect stood next to Trump in the Oval Office during a new conference Friday, finding common ground during their first meeting.

“We agree on a lot more than I would have thought,” the president told reporters.

The two underscored their mutual desire to make New York more affordable, with the president noting the pair agreed on many things, including peace in the Middle East, affordability and creating more housing.

Despite dire warnings during the campaign season of a potential Mamdani victory, the president showed optimism for the newly elected mayor.

“I really think there’s a chance to do a great job. We’re going to help him, but I really think he has a chance to do a great job,” Trump told the press.

When asked about crime, for which Mamdani has been criticized for prior comments he made about defunding the police, the mayor-elect appears to have changed his tune, wanting police to focus on more serious crime and dedicating more resources to combating mental health issues.

The president expressed that the pair would work together to tackle crime, a cornerstone of Trump’s second term.

“We’re going to work together. We’re going to make sure that if there are horrible people there, we want to get them out. I think he wants to get them out, maybe more than I do. So we’ll work together,” said the president.

During the press conference, the two were asked about prior comments they had previously made about each other, with Trump labeling Mamdani a “communist” and the mayor-elect accusing Trump of being a “fascist.” The two appeared to brush off their inflammatory remarks. The president quipped that Mamdani could call him a fascist, but the mayor-elect refused.

Before the election, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from the city if Mamdani was elected.

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” said the president.

Despite the threat, Trump appears to have walked back those threats, adding that the federal government would be helping him.

“He has a chance to really do something great for New York. New York is at a very critical point, and he does need the help of the federal government to really succeed. We’re going to be helping him.”

The meeting came on the heels of a resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday denouncing socialism. Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, didn’t shy away from his political ideology.

“I can tell you I am someone who is a Democratic socialist. I’ve been very open about that, and I know there might be differences about ideology, but the place of agreement is the work that needs to be done to make New York City affordable. That’s what I look forward to,” said Mamdani.

The president seemed to try to quell concerns from fellow Republicans and conservatives about Mamdani’s victory and political stances.

“I mean, he’s got views a little out there, but who knows. I mean, we’re going to see what works…I feel very confident that he can do a very good job. And I think he’s going to surprise some conservatives,” the president added.