Trump and Mamdani meet in 'shared admiration and love' for New York City

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met face-to-face for the first time Friday, with the two ideological rivals speaking of their shared interest in making the city safer and more affordable.

After months of trading barbs — Trump accusing Mamdani of being a communist, Mamdani vowing to "Trump-proof" the city — each struck a friendlier tone after meeting at the Oval Office for more than 30 minutes behind closed doors.

"I think this mayor can do some things that are going to be really good," Trump told reporters inside the Oval Office shortly after meeting, later saying he thought Mamdani would “surprise” some conservatives.

Mamdani, standing next to Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk, said though he and Trump have many differences, their meeting "focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers."

“It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love of New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.

Trump said he and Mamdani spoke at length about public safety “more than anything else.”

“Ultimately a safe New York is going to be a great New York,” Trump said. “No matter how well we do with pricing and with anything else, we can talk about anything you want, if you don’t have safe streets, it’s not going to be a success, so we’re going to work together.”

The president praised Mamdani's decision to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at her post, and Mamdani said he spoke to Trump about the "concerns that many New Yorkers have around the enforcement of immigration laws."

The Trump Administration has ramped up mass deportation campaigns in largely Democratic-run cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and most recently Charlotte, North Carolina, and Trump administration officials have repeatedly threatened to ramp up efforts in the five boroughs.

Trump, speaking about Mamdani’s calls for a more affordable city, said “some of the ideas he has are ideas I have.”

“You know, the new word is ‘affordability,’ another word is just groceries, sort of an old-fashion word, but it’s very accurate,” Trump said.

Trump, who for months has threatened to withhold federal funding from the city over Mamdani’s policies, said: “I expect to be helping him, not hurting him, a big help, because I want New York City to be great.”

New York City is expected to receive $7.4 billion in federal funding next year — roughly 6.4% of the city’s overall budget, according to a report released in April by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Trump, who built his wealth as a New York City real estate developer, and Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Astoria whose political rise was fueled by calls to increase taxes on the city’s wealthiest to fund programs like universal child care and free buses, have been at odds for months. But on Friday the president was complimentary of the campaign Mamdani ran, saying "he came out of no where."

Mamdani acknowledged that several of the city's Trump voters who he interviewed in a viral video before announcing his bid for office, voted for the Republican over their concerns about the rising cost of living.

"I can tell you that there were more New Yorkers who voted for President Trump in the most recent presidential election because of that focus on cost of living," Mamdani said. "And I'm looking forward to working together to deliver on that affordability agenda."

Trump also appeared to lightheartedly come to Mamdani's defense several times in their nearly 30 minute appearance before reporters. When a reporter asked Mamdani about calling Trump a fascist in the past, Trump patted him on the arm and said: "You can just say yes — it’s easier than explaining."

When a reporter asked Mamdani about previously calling Trump a despot, Trump replied: "I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting."

Trump, asked if he believed Mamdani was a "jihadist," an attack recently lobbed by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), said "I don't particularly think...I met with a man who's a very rational person."

Stefanik, a Trump ally who recently announced a run for governor, doubled down on her rhetoric against the city's first Muslim-American mayor, issuing a statement after the meeting that said "we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one" without explaining who she was disagreeing with.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a statement, said she appreciated Trump "rejected efforts by members of his own party to weaponize the mayor-elect’s background, faith, and identity for political gain, including the Islamophobic attacks labeling him a ‘jihadist.’ There’s no place for rhetoric like that in our politics or in New York."

Mamdani also faced questions about previously accusing the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza.

"I shared with the president in our meeting about the concern that many New Yorkers have of wanting their tax dollars to go towards the benefit of New Yorkers and their ability to afford basic dignity," Mamdani said of U.S. military aid to Israel.

Mamdani, asked about a recent anti-Israel protest outside of Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, said: "I look forward to rooting out antisemitism across the five boroughs and protecting Jewish New Yorkers and every New Yorker.”

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.