President Donald Trump offered an optimistic view of the direction of New York City after meeting with Democratic socialist Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday.
During a press conference that followed, Trump said the two found common ground in their desires to reduce the cost of living, while also cracking down on crime. He also acknowledged that Mamdani has “views that are a little out there,” adding that he’s likely to change.
“I feel very confident that he could do a very good job. I think he is gonna surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office.
Mamdani described the meeting as “productive,” saying the discussion was “focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers … who are struggling to afford life in the most expensive city in the United States of America.”
At one point during the press conference, Mamdani was asked if he would backtrack on his earlier labeling of Trump as a fascist.
Trump quickly jumped in as Mamdani danced around the question, joking that “you could just say yes.”
Mamdani said one in ten of his voters previously cast ballots for Trump, to which the president responded: “And I’m okay with that.”
On the campaign trail, Mamdani, a 34-year-old assemblyman from Queens, promised to institute rent control, increase taxes on the wealthy, and pull police funding for social services.
The far-left radical also pledged to allocate $100 million as legal support for illegal immigrants facing deportation and to uphold the city’s sanctuary status.
Despite Mamdani’s radical positions, Trump said he’s hopeful the two will “work … out” their differences when it comes to immigration raids and policing.
“If we have known murderers and known drug dealers and some very bad people, we want to get them out .. We discussed this at great length, actually, maybe more than anything else. He wants to have a safe New York, ultimately, a safe New York is gonna be a great New York.”
Additionally, he has vowed to open government-run grocery stores and free buses.
Mamdani has also faced backlash for criticizing Israel and repeatedly refusing to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.”
Trump announced Thursday that Mamdani requested to meet.
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