U.S. President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shake palms as they meet within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani struck an unexpectedly heat tone Friday after a non-public assembly on the White Home, praising each other repeatedly and highlighting broad settlement on affordability, housing development, and public security.
“We’ve just had a great meeting, a really good, very productive meeting,” Trump mentioned as the 2 males addressed reporters within the Oval Workplace. “We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well.”
Trump congratulated Mamdani on what he known as an “incredible” victory, saying the mayor-elect “ran an incredible race… against a lot of smart people.”
He mentioned their earlier dialogue targeted closely on rising prices and the necessity to “get housing built,” including: “Anything I do is going to be good for New York… we’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true — having a strong and very safe New York.”
Mamdani mentioned he appreciated the assembly and that the dialog centered on shared concern for the price of dwelling. “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,” he mentioned. “I appreciated the time with the President… and I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani react as they communicate to members of the media within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Trump softens earlier assaults
Mamdani, who campaigned on an aggressive affordability agenda, requested the assembly earlier within the week to press the case for residents grappling with the excessive price of dwelling.
Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Mamdani, falsely labeling the Democratic Socialist a “communist” throughout marketing campaign season and threatening to withhold federal funding from the town if Mamdani gained, signalled on the eve of the assembly that he anticipated the speak to be “quite civil.”
When pressed about repeatedly calling Mamdani a communist, Trump mentioned: “He’s got views out there, but who knows… some of my views have changed.” He mentioned he was assured Mamdani “could do a very good job” and advised the mayor-elect might “surprise some conservative people.”
Trump additionally famous important crossover assist. “He said a lot of my voters actually voted for him, and I’m okay with that… that’s pretty good.”
Reporters requested Mamdani whether or not he nonetheless believed Trump is a fascist. Earlier than Mamdani might reply, Trump put a hand on his shoulder and mentioned: “I’ve been called much worse than [a fascist]… it’s not that insulting. Maybe he’ll change his mind after we get to working together.”
When one other reporter requested once more whether or not Mamdani nonetheless stands by the time period, Mamdani responded: “I think both President Trump and I, we are very clear about our positions and our views.”Trump later jokingly advised Mamdani that he didn’t have to elucidate himself: “It’s easier than explaining it.”
Broad settlement on affordability and housing
Trump mentioned one of many key factors he “gleaned very much today” was Mamdani’s need to cut back rents by large-scale development. “He’d like to see them come down, ideally by building a lot of additional housing… and so do I,” Trump mentioned. “I want to see a lot of houses created, a lot of apartments built.”
Mamdani mentioned each males repeatedly returned to “what it could look like to lift those New Yorkers out of struggle.”
The mayor-elect mentioned his push for property-tax reform is geared toward fixing “a system that is so inequitable that it can’t even stand up in court.”
Trump emphasised that he expects to help, not hinder, Mamdani’s efforts. “I expect to be helping him, not hurting him — a big help,” he mentioned. “I love New York City… I think this mayor could do some things that are going to be really great.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani communicate to members of the media as they meet within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Crime, ICE and policing
Trump mentioned crime was amongst their deepest discussions. “He wants to have a safe New York… If you don’t have safe streets, it’s not going to be a success,” the president mentioned. “He wants to get [bad people] out, maybe more than I do.”
Mamdani mentioned he intends to take care of the NYPD’s present headcount — roughly 35,000 officers whereas decreasing the variety of psychological well being calls dealt with by police. “We have to make it easier for police to focus on police work,” he mentioned.
Trump praised Mamdani’s choice to retain the present police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, calling her “really good, really competent,” saying that Tisch had a connection together with his daughter Ivanka.
International coverage
The press convention later ranged into world points, together with Gaza and Ukraine. Mamdani reiterated his criticism of Israel’s army marketing campaign on Gaza, saying: “I’ve spoken about the Israeli government committing genocide, and I’ve spoken about our government funding it.” He mentioned many New Yorkers “want their tax dollars to go towards the benefit of New Yorkers and their ability to afford basic dignity.”
Trump asserted the USA had “peace in the Middle East… for the first time after 3,000 years,” and invited Mamdani to take a seat in on a future assembly about regional diplomacy. “If the mayor would like to be here for that meeting… absolutely,” he mentioned.
Requested about Ukraine, Trump argued the conflict “should have never happened” and mentioned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will “have to accept something.”
Would Trump stay in Mamdani’s New York?
Requested whether or not he would really feel comfy dwelling in New York Metropolis below Mamdani, Trump responded: “Yeah, I would, I really would, especially after the meeting. We agree on a lot more than I would have thought… I want him to do a great job, and we’ll help him do a great job.”
“Being the mayor of New York City is a big deal… especially now, because I think you’re really at a turning point, one way or the other,” Trump mentioned, including that it’s a job he would have appreciated.
Mamdani closed by stressing his dedication to security throughout all communities. “I care very deeply about Jewish safety,” he mentioned, pledging to “root out antisemitism across the five boroughs.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani react as they communicate to members of the media within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
