New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on November 21, marking a significant shift from their previous political hostilities. Both leaders described the meeting as "productive" and focused on shared goals for New York City, particularly regarding affordability and public safety.

During the press interaction following their meeting, a reporter asked Mamdani if he believed Trump was a fascist. Before Mamdani could respond, Trump interjected, saying, "That’s OK, you can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind," while patting Mamdani on the arm. This light-hearted moment was captured in a video shared online.

Mamdani, who has previously criticized Trump, including calling him a "despot," acknowledged the importance of their meeting. He stated, "I think both President Trump and I—we are very clear about our positions and our views. And what I really appreciate about the president is the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement—which there are many—and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers."

Trump, who had previously labeled Mamdani a "radical left lunatic," praised him as a "rational person" and expressed optimism about their working relationship. He noted, "The better he does, the happier I am. We have one thing in common: we want this city of ours that we love to do very well."

The discussion included key issues affecting New Yorkers, such as crime reduction, housing affordability, and rising living costs. Both leaders recognized inflation as a pressing concern for voters. Trump remarked, "Some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have," referring to Mamdani's approach to economic issues.

Despite their past exchanges, which included Trump calling Mamdani a "100% Communist" and Mamdani labeling Trump’s administration as "authoritarian," the tone of the meeting was notably amicable. Trump even joked about being called worse than a despot, suggesting that Mamdani's views might change positively as they work together.

The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing a commitment to collaborate for the betterment of New York City, setting aside their previous differences in pursuit of common goals.