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Given months of harsh rhetoric in which Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist lunatic,” many expected a contentious meeting. However, the encounter between the Republican president and the self-described democratic socialist—who won an overwhelming victory in early November with more than 50% of the vote—ended in friendship, warm words and concrete promises of cooperation.

After the meeting, Trump praised his ideological rival: “I’m very certain he can do a very good job. The better he does, the happier I will be. I will say there is no difference between the parties. There’s no difference in anything, and we will help everyone achieve their dreams, to have a strong and very safe New York.”

The president congratulated Mamdani on his mayoral victory, calling it “an incredible race against very smart people,” and the two politicians shook hands.

Trump added that he sees signs that the young politician may surprise both conservative and liberal observers.

Mamdani told reporters after leaving the Oval Office: “We talked about rent, grocery shopping, public services, and the different ways people are being pushed out.”

Trump added: “We had an interesting conversation, and some of his ideas really match mine.” He noted that they agreed on reducing crime and building housing.

The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between the combative Republican president and the defiant democratic socialist.

For Mamdani—who, until his shocking primary win, was a left-leaning state assembly member—the meeting was an early test of his ability to negotiate with a president who controls vast federal resources on which the city relies. Mamdani’s team took the initiative by requesting the meeting. Trump had earlier threatened to cut off federal funding to New York if Mamdani took office, but later struck a more conciliatory tone in an interview with Fox News: “I’m torn because I want the new mayor to succeed, because I love New York.”