Trump and Mamdani Meet in Oval Office Amid Sharp Rifts

FILE - New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani talks to reporters at a news conference in New York, Nov. 17, 2025.

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met on Friday in the Oval Office for their first in-person talks, following months of trading personal and political attacks.

Trump has repeatedly labelled Mamdani a “100% Communist lunatic” and a “total nut job,” while Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has described the Trump administration as “authoritarian,” calling himself “Trump’s worst nightmare.”

Despite the heated exchanges, both leaders indicated they were open to discussing shared priorities for New York City.

In a Friday morning radio interview, Trump predicted the meeting would be “quite civil,” noting that both men want to strengthen New York. Mamdani, who will assume office in January, requested the meeting to explore avenues for tackling affordability and cost-of-living pressures.

Their encounter follows a fiercely contested mayoral race in which Trump endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, questioned Mamdani’s citizenship, and suggested he could face legal consequences over immigration policies. Mamdani won the election, portraying Cuomo as a Trump-aligned candidate and stressing his progressive values and immigrant background.

Analysts say the meeting offers political opportunities for both sides: Trump can address national concerns over rising living costs, while Mamdani gains a rare chance to present his agenda directly to the president.

Still, the tone of the discussions remained uncertain, with both camps aware that even a cooperative session could quickly shift into political theatre.