Trump Praises Zohran Mamdani: 'You're Gonna Have, Hopefully, A Really Great Mayor'

In their first meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump congratulated New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and showered him with praise on his historic win.“We have one thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” Trump said in the Oval Office as Mamdani stood by his side. “And I wanted to congratulate the mayor, he really won an incredible race.”It was a shocking change of tone for Trump, who had previously called Mamdani a “communist lunatic,” and for Republicans in general, who have said Mamdani will not only destroy New York City with his socialist policies, but that his victory was a harbinger of socialism taking over the Democratic Party and possibly the entire United States. Trump didn’t want to get into any of that on Friday. Mamdani, for now, is Trump’s favourite thing — a winner. “I just want to congratulate — I think you’re gonna have, hopefully, a really great mayor,” Trump said. “The better he does, the happier I am, I will say. There’s no difference in party, there’s no difference in anything. And we’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York. And congratulations, Mr. Mayor.”U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on Nov. 21, 2025. Mamdani, too, toned down his rhetoric and avoided criticising Trump. A reporter asked Mamdani about his previous comments calling Trump’s policies “fascist.” Mamdani said despite their differences, he and Trump spent their meeting “focused on the shared purpose of serving New Yorkers.”Trump didn’t seem to mind Mamdani’s previous comments.“And I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting,” Trump added. “I think he’ll change his mind after we work together.”Later, a reporter returned to the topic, asking Mamdani if he no longer considered him a fascist. Mamdani started in on a diplomatic answer, but Trump cut him off. “That’s OK, you can just say yes,” Trump said. “OK,” Mamdani said, smiling. “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind,” Trump said, cheerfully patting Mamdani on his arm. While it may not be surprising that the president was so nice to the recent winner of a mayoral election in his beloved hometown, the lovefest was jarring after members of Trump’s party trashed Mamdani every single day for the past six weeks. House Speaker Mike Johnson, in particular, opened every press conference during the government shutdown by talking about the mayor-elect.“Democrat leaders in the Senate and the House have put their own political survival in front of the needs of the American people. Exhibit A is Zohran Mamdani,” Johnson said in October, adding that Mamdani’s impending victory threatened to undo 250 years of American capitalism. “We’ve been able to cling to the foundational principles of America, the ideas of individual freedom and limited government and the rule of law and peace through strength and fiscal responsibility and free markets and human dignity — all those things are in jeopardy when the Marxists take over,” Johnson said. “Look at where the energy is. This should be alarming to everyone around the country.”On Friday, it wasn’t alarming to Trump, who praised Mamdani for generating so much buzz — including the attention focused on Trump that very moment. “I tell you the press has eaten this thing up,” Trump said. “You know, I’ve had a lot of meetings with the heads of major countries, nobody cared. This meeting, you people have gone crazy. You know, outside you have hundreds of people waiting, this is just a small little group. For some reason the press has found this to be a very interesting meeting. The biggest people in the world, they come over from countries, nobody cares. And they did care about this meeting.”

Comments

Breaking news

David Lammy set to unveil major reforms to UK justice system this week

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Meacham: Trump Lashing Out in Response to D.C. Shooting

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi backtrack on plan to stay in UK while Trump is in power as couple plot return to sunny California to escape chilly Cotswold winter

The Ex-President Whom Trump Plans to Pardon Flooded America With Cocaine

Trump, Higgins & Murphy win UK Championship openers

Yet another Trump ally announces his retirement from Congress in order to spend more time with their family

Donald Trump's mad Autopen conspiracy: five things you need to know

In Announcing Pardon of Drug Trafficker While Threatening Venezuela, Trump Displays Contradictions

Top Trump Aides to Meet With Ukrainians in Florida on Sunday

Trump declares airspace above Venezuela 'closed entirely' amid armed conflict fears

MIKEY SMITH: 7 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he openly meddles in another country's election

Trump says Venezuela's airspace should be viewed as closed. It's not clear what that means

Flights divert away from Venezuela airspace after Trump shutdown order

President Trump: Consider Venezuelan Airspace 'Closed in Its Entirety'

Capehart: Trump Immigration Crackdown Hurts Security, Alleged Shooter 'Was Helping Us' in Afghanistan

Consider airspace around Venezuela closed, Trump says

Trump closes airspace 'above and surrounding' Venezuela

Comer: Court Will Back Trump Voiding Biden Executive Orders Signed with Autopen

GOP Rep. Luna on Trump 'Third World' Asylum Freeze: 'I 100% Back Him and I Hope that Congress Can Codify Something Related'

Trump&#039;s Vow To Pardon Jailed Ex-Honduran President Sparks Backlash

Flight tracker shows Venezuela airspace after Trump orders shutdown

Breaking news

David Lammy set to unveil major reforms to UK justice system this week

Dozens of Palestine Action supporters arrested after fresh wave of protests

Pentagon rolls out the welcome wagon for new MAGA-friendly press corps

Cheating in lightning chess - how unproven allegations ended in tragedy

David Lammy says Labour inherited 'courts emergency' amid plans to axe most jury trials

New trial allows HIV testing kits delivered to your door with results on phone

Gemma Collins 'confirms she is staying in Essex with plans to buy new home after £1.8M payday' despite stalker hell and rumoured Dubai move

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Honesty in politics will count for nothing if Reeves does not quit

Crime boss 'living the high life' after returning to UK fights second deportation on human rights grounds

Reeves will be lucky if the only punishment for this shameful deceit is the loss of her job: DAN HODGES

Now Angela Rayner faces new storm over tax on her grace and favour apartment

EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson reveals heartbreaking reason behind his epic soap return

Exposed: the Dubai-based fat cats making millions from asylum-seekers' taxis

Linda Robson shares update on best friend and Birds Of A Feather co-star Pauline Quirke amid dementia battle

Neighbours star Holly Valance snapped lounging on a steam train with hard-Right thug Tommy Robinson... as friends of the pop star say she has gone down a 'rabbit hole'

Alex Scott jokes she's too boring for I'm A Celebrity after Lioness is first kicked out of the jungle

Andrew told Epstein victim: I know he's been 'inappropriate' with another woman... a YEAR before ex-prince met his accuser Virginia Giuffre, lawyers for abused actress claim

RIP Sir Tom Stoppard: The woman-loving wordsmith who fled Hitler to become the greatest (and wittiest) playwright of his generation

Freddy Brazier's pregnant ex Holly Swinburn breaks silence on their split as she claims star had 'drug parties with girls in her house'

Catastrophic south-east Asia flooding leaves at least 600 dead with tens of thousands displaced as villages are submerged

Ellie Goulding strolls in west London wearing padded £2,950 Miu Miu jacket... but is it to hide some 'good news' for her and boyfriend Beau Minniear?

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi backtrack on plan to stay in UK while Trump is in power as couple plot return to sunny California to escape chilly Cotswold winter

TALK OF THE TOWN: V&A is just not ready for Freddie as it turns down Queen frontman's fashion collection

Corbyn's Your Party in chaos after co-founder Zarah Sultana snubs her own conference

Thousands of men with prostate cancer risk life-changing side effects because they aren't offered type of therapy received by David Cameron

The five things that set the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season apart

Is tracking your adult children OK or should parents learn to let go?

They have six packs - but they're still jumping on and off weight-loss jabs

A simple test could have given our son a very different future

The Papers: 'Reeves must go' and Tom Stoppard tributes

It's time to lock in and let your winter arc begin

The Ex-President Whom Trump Plans to Pardon Flooded America With Cocaine

Syria Tiptoes Toward Transitional Justice One Year After Assad’s Ouster

First picture of ‘genuine and funny’ man, 25, who died after falling from tower block

Lotto jackpot rolls over to £8,600,000 after no one claims prize

MP Ayoub Khan ‘killed a dog with his hands to save a baby’

Prince William ‘moved by courage’ of Gazan children brought to UK for treatment

Arrests made in New York after protesters appear to foil ICE raid with barricade of bodies and garbage bags

Thanksgiving home invasion leaves dog dead and widow without wedding ring and mortgage payment

Female cop banned from force after making 'unwanted sexual approach' to senior officer

Ukrainian officials head to US for peace talks - while dramatic footage shows Russian oil tanker being hit

Woman jailed for having sex outside busy shopping centre in broad daylight

Councils given record funding to fix potholes - but could lose it if they don't

Man accused of shooting Glasgow gangsters dead at Spanish bar pictured

'Severe allergic reaction made me lose my memory - I couldn't recognise myself'

Mum and dad screamed 'help us' as son 'beat them, set fire to home then escaped'

Rapist Met cop David Carrick's downfall - from 'popular' boy to serial sex offender

'Black hole' row: Call for Financial Conduct Authority investigation

Reeves must go for her Budget lies, say voters: Poll delivers damning verdict on Chancellor as No 10 admits that PM also knew there was no 'black hole'

I'm A Celebrity's Alex Scott reveals she is leaving Australia early to be with her girlfriend Jess Glynne

I'm A Celeb viewers brand Vogue Williams 'Superwoman' as gym loving model 'smashes' brutal 'Total Wipeout style' trial

Extraordinary moment explosion sends concrete blocks and chemical tank flying through the air near homes in Sydney's west - with factory fire set to burn ALL DAY

Vanessa Hudgens gives birth! High School Musical star welcomes second child with Cole Tucker

Greta Thunberg launches foul-mouthed tirade at 'fascist' Italian government during pro-Palestine protest in Rome - days after climate activist was banned from Venice

Was Charles' secret Cotswolds meeting with King of Bahrain a summit on his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's future?

Paige, 27, was told she was going to die from terminal brain cancer. Months later, doctors looked at her scans in pure disbelief

Russian drone and missile blitz on Ukraine's energy infrastructure leaves more than 600,000 in Kyiv without power

Trump's Vow To Pardon Jailed Ex-Honduran President Sparks Backlash