Washington, DC (US): President Donald Trump adopted an unexpectedly conciliatory posture during a meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday, telling the incoming mayor he was 'okay' with Mamdani continuing to call him a 'fascist', a label the progressive politician used frequently during his campaign.
The moment occurred when a reporter asked Mamdani whether he still stood by his past characterisation. Mamdani began to answer, saying, “I’ve spoken about it…,” before the president cut in. “That’s okay. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind,” Trump said, brushing aside the remark with an air of levity that surprised many observers.
Despite that sharp political history, both men described their Oval Office meeting as constructive and focused on shared priorities. Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump called the discussion great and very productive, stressing that as a New York native he wanted the next mayor to succeed. “One thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” he said.
Trump added that the two found very strong common ground on issues such as housing development, food prices and energy costs. “The price of oil is coming way down,” he noted, framing falling energy costs as a positive sign for New Yorkers strained by rising expenses.
Trump also offered praise that crossed partisan lines, saying he believed Mamdani could surprise critics on both ends of the political spectrum. “I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor. The better he does, the happier I am,” the president said, adding there was no difference in party when it came to supporting the city’s success.
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Mamdani On Meeting With Trump
Standing beside Trump, Mamdani echoed the cooperative tone. He described the meeting as productive and rooted in a shared admiration and love for New York City. The mayor-elect said he and the president discussed the mounting cost-of-living pressures pushing residents out of the city, including soaring rents, grocery bills and utility expenses.
“We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities,” Mamdani said. He emphasized that affordability would be the central focus of his administration and that he looked forward to working with the White House to address the crisis.
