US President Donald Trump hosted New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday for a meeting that took place without apparent conflict despite their radically different worldviews.
Here are some takeaways from their closely watched meeting:
Change of topic
What was the biggest victory for Trump? He changed the subject by changing his rhetoric about Mamdani, whom he previously described as a “100% communist lunatic.”
“We agree on a lot more than I would have thought,” the president said, his occasional scowl replaced by a broad smile as he praised Mamdani, referred to him as “Mr. Mayor” and predicted success for his tenure as New York’s leader.
Trump’s warm welcome by Mamdani and their televised tete-a-tete in the Oval Office captivated political enthusiasts and moved the headlines into more positive territory for the president after weeks of politically damaging coverage of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was once a friend of Trump.
With Trump’s polls plummeting and some of his policies failing to catch on, shifting focus to another issue is just what Trump needed — and it may be one reason he won’t turn on Mamdani again anytime soon.
Affordable agenda
Trump and Mamdani said they focused their private discussion on cost of living and affordability, issues at the heart of Mamdani’s mayoral victory. Trump talked at length about bringing down the price of groceries and housing.
“Some of his ideas are the same ideas that I have,” said Trump, who believed that some of his supporters voted for Mamdani.
A former real estate developer, Trump glossed over Mamdani’s call for more housing in New York, and Mamdani noted that his campaign had reached out to Trump’s base.
“When we talked to the voters who voted for President Trump, we heard them talk about the cost of living,” he said.
Emphasizing pocketbook issues, the two men largely avoided divisive topics such as immigration policy and the war in Gaza. But their economic focus also represented smart politics for Trump, as polls show affordability remains the top concern for voters across the country.
The White House has indicated that the cost of living will be a top priority for Trump next year, ahead of the midterm elections that will determine whether the president’s Republican Party retains control of Congress.
Holds itself
Mamdani, a Democrat, appeared comfortable and confident standing in the Oval Office. He spoke respectfully of Trump while sticking to the themes of his political campaign.
While the president praised him, Mamdani didn’t really praise the president, and he didn’t shy away from critical topics, such as his views on Trump’s immigration policies and how they affect New York.
Both answered questions, though Mamdani deferred to Trump in choosing which journalists to recognize from the press pool, which included New York-focused and right-wing journalists.
At one point, Trump weighed in to support Mamdani when the mayor-elect asked a question about why he was flying to Washington instead of taking a train.
“I will stick up for you,” Trump said, adding that a plane was the fastest way to get to DC from New York City.
Body language
Warmth, familiarity, even brotherhood.
In what could have been a contentious meeting of political opposites, Trump and Mamdani exuded friendliness in their first meeting since the Democratic Socialist became New York City’s mayor-elect after beating incumbents in the Democratic primary, notably former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Unlike aggressive meetings Trump has had with some foreign leaders in the same room, the president appeared calm, supportive and even enthusiastic about Mamdani when the two men appeared before cameras.
They displayed friendly body language. Trump shook Mamdani’s hand more than once, patted it with his other in apparent affection, and playfully touched or slapped his arm at other times, almost fatherly, as they took questions from the press together.
Trump, appearing as an elder statesman, sat at his desk while Mamdani, the younger upstart, stood beside him with his hands clasped. Trump wore a wide red power tie, Mamdani wore a narrower blue one, both colors corresponding to their respective political party affiliations.
Trump likes winners
Some expected fireworks between the volatile conservative president and the mayor-elect, who reaffirmed his embrace of the “democratic socialist” brand. Still, the aftermath of the meeting was surprisingly cordial.
Trump suggested Mamdani could “change his mind” on some policies. “I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people,” the president said.
Trump, who praised Mamdani’s performance during the mayoral primaries and general election, has always liked winners.
Bringing Mamdani to the White House was not significantly different from inviting a championship sports team — a presidential tradition that Trump enjoys.
And as a New Yorker, Trump may have a degree of respect for someone who successfully navigated the city’s tumultuous politics. “Being mayor of New York City is a big deal,” Trump said.
At times, Trump acted as if he was meeting with another head of state. He remarked on the media attention the two had attracted, saying it exceeded the scrutiny some leaders from other countries attracted.
Trump grew up in Queens, where Mamdani now lives, making him the city’s first mayor from that borough. It is possible that both men saw themselves as somewhat kindred spirits.
“I love New York City,” the president said.
