WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump publicly affirmed support for New York City Mayor Hamza Mamdani following a meeting at the White House on November 21, 2025, stating, ”We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.” The unexpected display of cordiality marks a significant shift from Trump’s previous antagonistic rhetoric toward the mayor, especially during the recent New York City mayoral campaign.
The meeting arrives amid speculation of potential friction between the two leaders, given Trump’s past threats to withhold federal funding should Mamdani win the election and his repeated labeling of the mayor as a “communist.” This evolving dynamic carries implications for federal-local relations and signals a potential recalibration of Trump’s political strategy as he eyes future engagements.
During the Oval Office meeting, trump pledged assistance to Mamdani’s management, stating, “We’re going to be helping him.” He expressed optimism about the mayor’s potential, saying, “I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor. The better he does, the happier I am.”
When directly questioned about his prior characterization of Mamdani as a “communist,” Trump indicated a willingness to reconsider his position.”Some of my views have changed,” he saeid, adding, “I feel very confident that he can do a very good job.”
Throughout a press briefing following the meeting, Trump repeatedly defended Mamdani against pointed questions from reporters, even offering reassurance with a pat on the arm and suggesting the mayor could dismiss labels like “despot.” Trump himself remarked, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot. So it’s not that insulting.”
Both Trump and Mamdani appeared keen to avoid public conflict. Trump concluded the briefing expressing hope for future collaboration, stating, “I hope we do [meet again]. We had a great meeting.”
