30:30President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani address members of the press during their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, Nov. 21, 2025. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani convened in the Oval Office on Friday, engaging in discussions pertaining to affordability and security within New York City, and appearing amicable following months of reciprocal criticism.
"I just want to offer my congratulations. My hope is that you're going to be a truly outstanding mayor, and his success will be my satisfaction," Trump stated. "I maintain that party lines are irrelevant, and all other differences are secondary. We are committed to assisting him in realizing everyone's aspirations for a robust and exceptionally secure New York. Congratulations, Mr. Mayor."
President Donald Trump confers with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, November 21, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Mamdani expressed: "It was a fruitful dialogue that centered on a mutual point of reverence and affection, namely New York City, and the imperative of ensuring affordability for its residents."
Trump and Mamdani exhibited warmth and exchanged handshakes after their approximately 25-minute private conversation — with both affirming their accord on numerous issues.
Their agreeable press briefing contrasted sharply with the preceding months marked by mutual disparagement, impassioned pronouncements, and even threats as Mamdani transitioned from an obscure state legislator from Queens to the elected leader of one of the world's most significant cities.
Trump had persistently labeled Mamdani — a self-proclaimed democratic socialist — a "communist" as recently as Thursday.
Following Friday's assembly, Trump anticipated Mamdani would become an exceptional leader for the metropolis and conveyed his belief that he would surprise "certain conservative individuals."
President Donald Trump meets with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, November 21, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
"I anticipate that this mayor is capable of implementing measures that will be genuinely remarkable," the president commented.
Mamdani, who previously denounced Trump as an autocrat and a fascist and condemned his right-leaning policies, conveyed after the meeting that he and the president were committed to guaranteeing that the 8.5 million inhabitants of New York City could subsist without the burden of affording essential needs such as housing.
"What I genuinely appreciate regarding the president is that our discussion did not fixate on areas of disagreement, of which there are numerous, but rather concentrated on our shared objective of serving New Yorkers," he declared.
The prior animosity between Trump and Mamdani was addressed during the press conference, and both figures seemed to have moved beyond their antagonism.
Upon a reporter querying Mamdani as to whether he still regarded Trump as a fascist, the president interjected with a jest prior to accepting another inquiry.
"That's perfectly acceptable; you can simply respond, 'Yes,'" Trump remarked as he playfully tapped Mamdani on the back, accompanied by laughter. "It simplifies matters, circumventing the need for lengthy explanations."
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speak to members of the media as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House, Nov. 21, 2025.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
In the past, the president had threatened to curtail federal allocations should Mamdani be elected and to deploy federal operatives into the city to combat criminality. Mamdani has also been critical of ICE's intensified interventions and the administration's escalation in deportations.
Mamdani and Trump indicated that crime was a subject of their discussions.
"We delved into ICE and New York City, and I elucidated the regulations we uphold in New York City," Mamdani communicated, further noting that New Yorkers harbor apprehensions regarding immigration enforcement, alongside addressing severe offenses.
President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, November 21, 2025 in Washington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Subsequently, Trump commented on Mamdani: "His desire is to eradicate crime, foster residential development, and alleviate rental burdens—objectives I wholeheartedly endorse. While our methodologies might diverge."
The president's endorsement of Mamdani's proposals extended to affirming that he would be "very comfortable" residing in New York City as a billionaire.
"Indeed, I would, particularly after this exchange," Trump asserted. "Our common ground is more extensive than I initially surmised. I am invested in his success and stand ready to facilitate it."
Mamdani's detractors have conveyed skepticism regarding the feasibility of enacting his progressive initiatives, such as fare-free municipal buses, subsidized childcare, and rent stabilization for rent-controlled units.
The mayor-elect divulged that he conferred with Trump regarding President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and its contributions to Americans during the Great Depression.
Trump displayed a portrait of FDR to Mamdani during their discussion.
"Another aspect of our meeting that resonated with me [was] appreciating the portrait of FDR and the groundbreaking accomplishments of the New Deal, while also contemplating the transformative possibilities when the federal government and New York City government collaborate to ensure affordability," Mamdani conveyed.
President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 21, 2025.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump voiced his appreciation for the meeting and indicated his intention to collaborate more intimately with the mayor-elect going forward.
"Undoubtedly, we will encounter areas of disagreement. I anticipate that we will ultimately arrive at a consensus, with him swaying my perspective or vice versa," Trump stated. "Ultimately, this is for the benefit of New York. I hold no regard for affiliations, parties, or any extraneous factors. My foremost desire is to witness this city attaining unparalleled greatness. Should he achieve remarkable success, I would be immensely gratified by our collective prosperity."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
