WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said on Nov. 21 that he and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani had a “very productive meeting” at the White House and found common ground on supporting the city, with a focus on affordability, housing, and reducing crime.
“We've just had a great meeting, a really good, very productive meeting,” Trump told reporters as Madani stood next to him in the Oval Office. “We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well. And I wanted to congratulate the mayor.”
Mamdani agreed and thanked the president for the meeting.
“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. “I appreciate the conversation. I look forward to working together.”
Trump said he would feel comfortable living in New York City under the Mamdani administration, “especially after the meeting.”
“We had a meeting today that actually surprised me,” Trump said. “I expect to be helping him, not hurting him—a big help, because I want New York City to be great.
Trump also said: “Some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have.” He noted shared goals on bringing down prices.
Mamdani, who calls himself a democratic socialist, will be running the most populous city in America starting on Jan. 1, 2026.
He has sparred publicly with Trump, who has criticized his progressive platform and threatened to cut federal funding to the city.
When asked why he had called Mamdani a communist, Trump struck a softer tone.
“We're going to see what works, or he's going to change also. We all change. I changed a lot—changed a lot from when I first came to office,” the president said.
Mamdani and Trump, both from Queens, have publicly criticized each other for months following Mamdani’s victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination.
Trump has often called the mayor-elect a “communist” because of Mamdani’s support for democratic socialism. He has also threatened to cut federal funding to the city’s government if Mamdani tries to carry out some of his campaign promises.
Mamdani, by contrast, has criticized the president's policies, including his effort to remove illegal immigrants from the United States. During his campaign, Mamdani vowed to use city resources to provide legal counsel to foreign nationals facing deportation.
During the meeting, Trump expressed confidence in the mayor-elect, saying, “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually.”
Mamdani said they focused on their shared goals instead of their disagreements during the meeting. He highlighted his aim to address the cost of living crisis, noting that one in four New Yorkers lives in poverty.
Both agreed on the need to address major challenges facing New York City, including crime, housing, and the cost of living. However, Trump noted that their approaches may differ. The two also discussed ICE deportations during their meeting, but they chose not to debate their differences in front of cameras.
“We discussed crime more than ICE, per se,” Trump said. “He doesn't want to see crime, and I don't want to see crime.”
Reporters pressed Mamdani about his previously labeling Trump a “despot” and a “fascist.”
Trump interjected, saying, “I have been called much more than a despot.
“It’s not that insulting,” he joked. “I think he will change his mind after we get to working together.”
Mamdani’s victory on Nov. 4 to lead the city of more than 8 million people represents one of the most significant victories for the political left flank of the Democratic Party in recent history.
Mamdani, 34, aligned himself with left-wing figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), both of whom have endorsed the candidate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not endorse the candidate, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) gave his endorsement in the final stretches of the campaign.