Trump and Mamdani strike conciliatory tone in rare Oval Office meeting

US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met in the Oval Office on Friday, striking a conciliatory tone after months of public hostility. The 25-minute closed-door meeting focused on affordability and safety in the city, with both men expressing a surprising degree of alignment.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said, “I think you're going to have hopefully a really great mayor and the better he does, the happier I am… There's no difference in party. There's no difference in anything. And we're going to be helping him.”

Mamdani, a democratic socialist and former state assemblyman from Queens, described the exchange as “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.”

The public appearance marked a stark shift from their combative relationship during the mayoral campaign, where Trump frequently branded Mamdani a “communist” as recently as the day before the meeting. Mamdani, in turn, had previously referred to Trump as a “fascist” and criticised his immigration and policing policies.

Despite this history, both leaders appeared to have put aside personal grievances. They shook hands, exchanged compliments, and made light of past insults.

When asked whether he still considered Trump a fascist, Mamdani declined to respond directly. Trump interjected with humour, saying, “That’s OK, you can just say, ‘Yes’… It’s easier than explaining it,” patting Mamdani on the back.

The meeting covered substantive issues, including immigration enforcement and urban crime. Mamdani noted that they discussed the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York and concerns from residents about both immigration raids and violent crime.

Trump, who had previously threatened to deploy federal agents in the city if Mamdani were elected, appeared more conciliatory. “He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down. All the things that I agree with,” Trump said. “Now, we may disagree how we get there.”

Trump went so far as to say he would feel “very comfortable” living in New York City again as a billionaire under Mamdani’s leadership, adding, “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.”

Among the ideas discussed were Mamdani’s progressive proposals, such as free city bus service, free child care, and a rent freeze for rent-stabilised units. These proposals have drawn criticism from political opponents, who question their feasibility.

Mamdani also brought up historical parallels with the New Deal era, referring to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legacy. “One thing I also appreciated in our meeting [was] to appreciate a portrait of FDR and the incredible work that was done with the New Deal,” he said. He suggested that similar collaboration between federal and city governments could be transformative in addressing New York’s affordability crisis.

Trump, in response, expressed interest in future cooperation and acknowledged that disagreements will persist. “There will be topics that we disagree on. I think we'll probably come to a conclusion and, ultimately, he'll convince me or I'll convince him,” he said. “It’s for the good of New York.”

The meeting signals a possible reset in federal–municipal relations in the nation’s largest city, with both leaders pledging to prioritise the well-being of its 8.5 million residents despite sharp ideological divides.

Mamdani is expected to take office early next year, and observers will be watching closely to see whether Friday’s cordiality translates into lasting cooperation.