US President Donald Trump surprised everyone by breaking his own mold on Friday, when he warmly praised New York City's newly elected Democratic mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. This came after months of heated insults and verbal sparring between the two men.
The unlikely encounter took place in the Oval Office at the White House, where Trump smiled warmly at Mamdani as he patted him on the arm, a clear departure from his previous jibes. Trump acknowledged that while they have many differences, they share a common goal: to do well by New York City and its residents.
The two men focused more on shared interests than their past disagreements during their private meeting. Mamdani praised Trump for focusing on the shared purpose of serving the city, rather than dwelling on areas where they disagree.
This unexpected display of warmth marked a significant shift from previous confrontations between Trump and Mamdani. A recent poll found that only 26% of Americans believe Trump is doing a good job managing the cost of living. In contrast, Mamdani's platform for rent control, free buses, and childcare resonated with many New Yorkers.
Trump revealed he's paying more attention to affordability and inflation issues, as they are shared concerns between him and Mamdani. When questioned about their past insults, both Trump and Mamdani laughed it off, seeming to put the past behind them.
While their meeting was cordial and promising, not everyone is convinced that Trump has changed his stance on Mamdani or New York City's governance. Some still question Mamdani's intentions and trustworthiness.
Despite this unease, Trump revealed he would consider moving back to Manhattan if Mamdani becomes mayor. This unexpected gesture hinted at a possible shift in their relationship from adversaries to allies in addressing key city issues.
Their meeting marked an intriguing start to the unlikely partnership between two men with vastly different backgrounds and ideologies, raising hopes that New York City might finally see some progress on its pressing problems.
The unlikely encounter took place in the Oval Office at the White House, where Trump smiled warmly at Mamdani as he patted him on the arm, a clear departure from his previous jibes. Trump acknowledged that while they have many differences, they share a common goal: to do well by New York City and its residents.
The two men focused more on shared interests than their past disagreements during their private meeting. Mamdani praised Trump for focusing on the shared purpose of serving the city, rather than dwelling on areas where they disagree.
This unexpected display of warmth marked a significant shift from previous confrontations between Trump and Mamdani. A recent poll found that only 26% of Americans believe Trump is doing a good job managing the cost of living. In contrast, Mamdani's platform for rent control, free buses, and childcare resonated with many New Yorkers.
Trump revealed he's paying more attention to affordability and inflation issues, as they are shared concerns between him and Mamdani. When questioned about their past insults, both Trump and Mamdani laughed it off, seeming to put the past behind them.
While their meeting was cordial and promising, not everyone is convinced that Trump has changed his stance on Mamdani or New York City's governance. Some still question Mamdani's intentions and trustworthiness.
Despite this unease, Trump revealed he would consider moving back to Manhattan if Mamdani becomes mayor. This unexpected gesture hinted at a possible shift in their relationship from adversaries to allies in addressing key city issues.
Their meeting marked an intriguing start to the unlikely partnership between two men with vastly different backgrounds and ideologies, raising hopes that New York City might finally see some progress on its pressing problems.