WASHINGTON: In a masterclass of political stagecraft, U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City’s socialist Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, buried a history of venomous insults on Friday to stage a surprisingly cordial summit at the White House.
The televised Oval Office meeting saw the two polar opposites exude warmth and familiarity, finding common ground in their shared affection for New York City while artfully sidestepping their vast ideological divides.After a private discussion, the two leaders presented a united front, with President Trump praising Mamdani’s “incredible race” and declaring, “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought”.
The amiable body language—Trump patting Mamdani’s arm and shaking his hand warmly—underscored a dramatic shift in tone from a president who had previously labeled the mayor-elect a “100% Communist Lunatic”. For his part, Mamdani described the meeting as “productive” and focused on “a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City”.
The meeting’s surreal and jocular atmosphere was perfectly captured when a reporter asked Mamdani if he stood by his past characterization of Trump as a “fascist.” Before the mayor-elect could give a diplomatic answer, Trump interjected with a smile, “That’s okay. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind”.
