President Donald Trump met New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on November 21, 2025 in a meeting that brought an unexpectedly conciliatory tone to a relationship previously defined by sharp public exchanges.
The hour-long discussion focused on affordability measures, including housing costs, rent regulation and federal support for municipal infrastructure. It marked Mamdani’s first formal engagement with the president since his election earlier this month.
No formal policy commitments were announced. But it was the visible cordiality between the two that caught the Internet by surprise.
Mamdani and Trump labels
Speaking to reporters afterward in the Oval Office, Trump described Mamdani as “smart, and capable,” adding, “We don’t agree on everything, but we agree we want New Yorkers to have an affordable and safe place to live”. The remarks contrasted sharply with Trump’s earlier criticisms during the mayoral race. He had labelled Mamdani “a communist lunatic” and suggested his victory would “destroy New York.”
Mamdani, who campaigned as a democratic socialist with a platform centred on tenant rights, public housing expansion and fare-free transit, echoed the emphasis on shared priorities. “This was a productive meeting,” he said. “New Yorkers elected me to deliver affordability and dignity, and to do that, we need cooperation at every level of government, including the White House.”
However, the exchange grew tense when reporters asked Mamdani whether he still believed Trump was “a fascist” and a “despot”, labels he used repeatedly during his campaign”. Both President Trump and I are very clear on our position and views,” replied Mamdani. He added that the meeting that they had focused “not on disagreements” but on “the shared purpose of serving New Yorkers.”
Trump, seated beside him, interjected when the question was repeated. “That’s okay. You can just say yes. I don’t mind”. The remark drew laughter in the room and underscored the contrast between the administration’s message of cooperation and the entrenched ideological distance between the two men.
Reporters also questioned Trump about Elise Stefanik’s remark calling Mamdani a “jihadist”. The US President shut down the question by saying, “You say things sometimes in a campaign.”
Reactions to the “Lovefest”
The interaction, which CNN dubbed a “lovefest“, has ignited a social media frenzy that persists two days later. Their surprising rapport has amused and astonished people globally, leading to a wave of hilarious memes and online reactions.
Progressive organisers in New York expressed concern that the mayor-elect may be normalising a presidency they view as authoritarian. Meanwhile, several Republican lawmakers criticised Trump for offering “legitimacy” to a politician they believe represents the far left.
Both Trump and Mamdani insisted that Friday’s meeting signalled ongoing engagement rather than a one-off symbolic gesture. “We’re going to keep talking,” Trump told reporters as the meeting concluded. “We want results.”
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