On Friday, Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of New York City, came face-to-face in the Oval Office, marking a significant encounter between two prominent political figures from different generations.

During the meeting, the president seemed to be in a lively mood, particularly when he addressed a reporter’s question about Mamdani’s previous characterization of him as a “fascist.” In a surprising move, Trump quipped, “You can call me it,” suggesting that Mamdani had made a notable impression during their conversation.

Trump, known for his deep roots in New York’s real estate world, expressed his hope that Mamdani would excel in his new role as mayor. “The better he does, the happier I am,” Trump remarked, indicating his support for Mamdani’s success.

Trump, who is a titan of New York real estate, said he hoped that Mamdani would be ‘a really great mayor.’

‘The better he does, the happier I am,’ he added.

The president went as far as saying conservatives are going to be surprised by Mamdani, who rose to power on a wave of support from younger voters frustrated by sky-high property prices.  

‘I think he’s gonna surprise some conservative people, actually,’ Trump said after their meeting. ‘And some very liberal people he won’t surprise because they already like him.’ 

Mamdani, 34, a democratic socialist, was elected in a landslide result earlier this month. He is widely seen as a next generation leader of the Democratic party. The result of the meeting could impact the US’s largest city in major ways. 

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday. Trump congratulated the 34-year-old on his recent electoral victory

‘That’s ok, you can just say it.’ Trump said when asked about Mamdani calling the president a ‘fascist’ in the past

Trump focused primarily on the common ground the two share. 

‘I congratulate him, and we talked about some things … like housing and getting housing built and food and prices and the price of oil,’ Trump added. ‘We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.’

‘Some of his ideas are the same ones I have,’ the president said of Mamdani’s focus on affordability. 

At times, Mamdani appeared uncomfortable with the president’s flattery. Mamdani repeatedly pivoted back to his focus on affordability as the press peppered the two leaders with questions. 

Trump repeatedly urged voters not to back the young progressive and endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on the eve of election day. 

Despite calling Mamdani a ‘communist’ and a ‘lunatic,’ the president said Friday morning that he believed the meeting would be cordial. 

The president even threatened to withhold some federal funds from the city if Zohran was elected, saying, ‘If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home.’

However, the president’s tone completely changed when the two met on Friday. 

At times, Mamdani appeared uncomfortable with the president’s flattery 

Mamdani said he spoke to the president about affordability and ICE operations in New York 

The president said he would ‘absolutely’ live in a Mamdani-run New York City and that he has ‘very little doubt’ the unlikely pair agree on crime policy. 

Mamdani said he spoke to the president about affordability and ICE operations in New York as well as bringing down costs as inflation eats away at middle class earnings. 

On Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted the weight of the meeting between the two rivals. 

‘It speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and to try to do what’s right on behalf of the American people whether they live in blue states or red states or blue cities — in a city that’s becoming much more left than I think this president ever anticipated in his many years of living in New York,’ she told reporters. 

The president mentioned how Mamdani took a photograph in front of a painting of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Though he has relentlessly gone after the young democratic socialist, the two do share commonalities. 

Both have connections to New York City’s Queens neighborhood and have devoted followers. 

In private, the president has even reportedly mentioned Mamdani’s political prowess, noting how the progressive is charismatic. 

‘I know that for tens of thousands of New Yorkers, this meeting is between two very different candidates who they voted for, for the same reason,’ Mamdani said of the meeting. 

‘They wanted a leader who would take on the cost-of-living crisis that makes it impossible for working people to afford living in the city.’

The mayor-elect has also reportedly sought council ahead of the meeting from top Democrats who have interacted with Trump.