New York City’s political landscape took an unexpected turn last week as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump met face-to-face at the White House, putting months of fierce campaign rhetoric aside in favor of a surprisingly cordial—if still ideologically charged—discussion. The November 21, 2025, meeting marked the first time the two polar opposites sat down together, and what followed was a blend of public disagreements, pragmatic cooperation, and a shared focus on the city’s affordability crisis.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, did not mince words when asked—both during and after the meeting—if he still considered President Trump a fascist. “That’s something that I’ve said in the past; I say it today,” Mamdani told NBC News on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The president, for his part, appeared unfazed. When a reporter pressed Mamdani on his ‘fascist’ label during their White House press conference, Trump interjected with a shrug, “That’s OK. You can just say it. That’s easier. I don’t mind.”
This exchange, reported by NBC News and other outlets, set the tone for a meeting that was both frank and unexpectedly positive. “I appreciated the tone and the fact that both of us were looking to have a productive meeting,” Mamdani said in the Bronx on Sunday, after returning from Washington. He described the conversation as focused on tangible issues like housing costs, childcare, groceries, and utilities—concerns that have become central to New Yorkers across all five boroughs.
President Trump, who grew up in New York, had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and threatened to cut federal funding to the city and send in the National Guard if Mamdani won. Yet, after their meeting, Trump was magnanimous, telling reporters, “We’ve just had a great … very productive meeting. We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well. We are going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true: having a strong and very safe New York.”
The sharp turnaround in tone was not lost on observers. According to CNN, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, commented on State of the Union, “We’re at times disagreeing about policies, but I think that the objective of making life better for everybody is something that a lot of people share on the Democratic and Republican side.” Hassett also acknowledged that while no “really strong ideas” had yet emerged, there was genuine potential for positive work between the two leaders.
For Mamdani, the meeting was an opportunity to demonstrate a willingness to work with anyone who could help New Yorkers, regardless of political differences. “I think the responsibility I have as the mayor of the city is to work with anyone who can help to alleviate the affordability crisis and deliver dignity to each and every person that calls the city home,” Mamdani told reporters outside a Bronx church. He added, “It is critically important to both be honest about our own opinions, our own assessments, and be committed to working with anyone who could further that.”
Throughout the campaign, the two men traded barbs. Trump endorsed Mamdani’s opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and repeatedly accused Mamdani of being a “communist.” Mamdani, in turn, promised to “Trump-proof” the city and called Trump a “despot.” But as Mamdani explained on Meet the Press, “Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe. I’m not coming into the Oval Office to make a point or make a stand. I’m coming in there to deliver for New Yorkers.”
The pair’s conversation at the White House was not limited to economic concerns. According to NBC News, they also discussed immigration enforcement, sanctuary city policies, and public safety. Mamdani emphasized the city’s coordination with federal authorities on about 170 serious crimes but voiced concerns about broader immigration enforcement. “Many New Yorkers who at this moment are being arrested, they’re being detained, they are being deported for the crime of showing up to a regular court appearance, for the crime of simply being present in New York City,” Mamdani said. He stressed his commitment to protecting immigrants and ensuring public safety across all boroughs.
Public safety was another contentious topic. Trump’s campaign threats to send the National Guard into New York were raised during the meeting. Mamdani told the president, “What separates New York City from anywhere else in the country is we have the NYPD, and I trust the NYPD to deliver public safety.” Trump, when asked if he would send troops to New York, replied, “If they need it. Right now, other places need it more, but if they need — we had a very good meeting yesterday. We talked about that, but if they need it, I would do it.”
On the policy front, Mamdani reiterated his campaign promise to raise taxes on the city’s highest earners in order to fund key initiatives. He acknowledged that he would need the cooperation of Governor Kathy Hochul and state legislators in Albany to make this happen. “I think she’ll work with me to deliver on affordability. I think raising taxes make the most sense,” Mamdani said, adding, “If there’s any alternatives that raise the same amount of money, I’m open.”
Notably, Mamdani’s relationship with national Democratic leaders has been complex. Many were hesitant to endorse him during the campaign, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Yet, Mamdani has since expressed support for Jeffries to become Speaker of the House if Democrats regain the majority in 2026. After his victory, Mamdani also spoke with former President Barack Obama about the challenge of not just inspiring hope but delivering on it.
Mamdani’s message to New Yorkers has been consistent: he intends to keep his focus on the issues that matter most to city residents, regardless of political theater. “When you actually ask New Yorkers and you listen to them, you hear it come back to the issues that animated not just the conversation the president and I had with the press after our meeting, but frankly, in the meeting itself,” he said. Both Trump and Mamdani, despite their differences, campaigned on promises to lower costs for Americans—a rare point of agreement that could, at least for now, set the stage for cooperation.
As the city watches this unlikely relationship unfold, the stakes remain high. The coming months will test whether pragmatism can triumph over partisanship, and whether two leaders with such divergent worldviews can, in fact, deliver for the millions of New Yorkers who elected them to do just that.
