Trump and NYC Mayor Mamdani Put Politics Aside in Warm Oval Office Meeting

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In a departure from their past public sparring, US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani met on Friday in a cordial and productive session at the Oval Office. Trump, who has previously referred to Mamdani as a 'communist lunatic' and a 'total nut job,' praised the mayor for his goals and approach, saying he was 'going to surprise some conservative people.' The US President also offered to help Mamdani make New York 'strong and safe,' a gesture that the mayor appreciated, citing the 'shared purpose' of serving the city's residents. Mamdani, for his part, expressed gratitude for the meeting's focus on common goals rather than disagreements. During the meeting, Trump was asked about Republican leader Elise Stefanik's remark calling Mamdani a 'jihadist.' The President swiftly dismissed the comment, saying it was a campaign remark that didn't reflect his views. He described Mamdani as a 'very rational' leader who wants to see New York thrive. Trump also poked fun at the press's intense interest in the meeting, saying, 'The press has eaten this thing up.' He noted that the meeting had garnered more attention than some of his high-level diplomatic meetings, and praised Mamdani's ideas on affordability and the working class. Mamdani, in turn, spoke about the need to prioritize the working class in New York's politics, saying that they had been 'left behind.' Trump backed his proposal, saying some of his ideas aligned with his own. In response to a question about living in New York under Mamdani's administration, Trump said he would be 'comfortable' and even 'cheering' for the mayor's success. The meeting marked a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation and civility in the nation's capital.