‘We agree on a lot more than I thought,’ Trump says after meeting with mayor-elect Mamdani

President Donald Trump said his meeting with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, showed “no difference in party” and pledged to help him return a “strong and safe New York.” 

“We had a meeting today that actually surprised me,” said Trump, a Republican. “He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rent coming down. All things that I agree with.”  

He said the two men united in their love for New York City, saying “the better he does, the happier I am.”  

“I expect to be helping him, not hurting him, a big help, because I want New York City to be great,” Trump said. “Look. I love New York City. It’s where I come from. I spent a lot of years there.” 

Mamdani said the meeting was productive and focused on the two men’s “shared love” for the Big Apple. 

“Both President Trump and I, we are very clear about our positions and our views, and what I really appreciate about the President is the meeting that we had focused not only on places of disagreement, which there are many, (but) also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers.” 

Affordability is the main issue 

Mamdani cited the 8.5 million people who live in New York City – 25% of whom live in poverty.  

“The meeting came back again and again to what it could look like to lift those New Yorkers out of struggle and start to deliver to them a city that they could do more than just struggle to afford, but actually start to live,” Mamdani said.  

Mamdani said one of the highlights of the meeting was taking a photo in front of a portrait of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Trump said he had found the historical, beautiful painting, which was previously lost, in the White House vaults. He said he re-hung the portrait in recognition of the work of the Democrat. 

“One thing I also appreciated is in our meeting to appreciate a portrait of FDR and the incredible work that was done with the New Deal,” Mamdani said. “Also, in thinking about what it can look like when the federal government and New York City together deliver on affordability. It can be transformative.” 

“Affordability” was the key topic of conversation, Trump and Mamdani said, despite their party and tactical differences. Trump, however, seemed unconcerned with Mamdani’s socialist strategies. 

“I feel very confident that he can do a very good job,” the president said. “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually, and some very liberal people. He won’t surprise them because they already like him.” 

Trump said the two men will work together, continue to meet, compromise and likely both change opinions on occasion. 

“I mean, we’re going to see what works, and he’s going to change,” Trump said. “Also, I changed a lot. I’ve changed a lot from when I first came to office.”  

Mamdani stood by his previous critique of Trump when asked by a reporter in the Oval Office about calling Trump a fascist.  

“I’ve been called much worse than it, so it’s not that insulting,” Trump said. “Maybe, I think, he’ll change his mind after we get to working together.” 

(Image credit: Screenshot/White House/X)