On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his optimism about New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, stating, "The better he does, the happier I'll be," following their meeting at the White House.
During a joint press conference, Trump, who appeared surprisingly cordial towards Mamdani, expressed his belief that the socialist mayor "will do a good job in New York" and may pleasantly surprise many conservatives.
"We don't agree on nearly anything, but we will support him in doing a fantastic job. We share a common goal; we both want our city to thrive," added the president.
After previously urging Trump to "turn up the volume" during his victory speech, Mamdani described the meeting with the president as productive, emphasizing their shared commitment to serving New Yorkers.
When asked if he would enjoy living in Mamdani's New York, Trump said he would feel "very, very comfortable living in New York."
Unexpectedly, the press conference maintained a warm tone, with Trump not only praising the socialist but also assisting him in handling challenging media questions.
Just yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning socialism, a legislative action that brought together traditionally opposing factions of both parties.
The resolution, spearheaded by Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, received support from 86 Democrats, who joined their Republican counterparts in formally denouncing "socialist policies" in the country, coinciding with the victory of New York's openly socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani, born in Kampala, Uganda, immigrated to New York at the age of seven. As the son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, he was raised in an environment rich in social consciousness and cultural diversity.
Educated at the Bronx High School of Science and later at Bowdoin College, where he studied African Studies, Mamdani's journey led from student activism to institutional politics.
His campaign was characterized by an inclusive visual language, featuring messages in Urdu, Spanish, and nods to popular culture like Bollywood, appealing to the diverse fabric of New York City.
His platform focused on tackling the high cost of living in one of the world's most expensive cities, proposing initiatives such as free city-wide bus service, universal childcare starting at six weeks of age, rent freezes, stricter oversight of negligent landlords, the creation of municipally owned supermarkets with affordable prices, and tripling the construction of union-managed stabilized rental housing.
In an interview conducted in September 2025, Mamdani avoided labeling Miguel Díaz-Canel and Nicolás Maduro as "dictators." "I haven't thought much about Miguel Díaz-Canel, to be honest," he initially remarked.
Regarding Maduro, he added, "I believe he has done many terrible things; his government is one of repression, there's no doubt about that... but I simply don't think of them that often."
Throughout the interview, Mamdani refrained from using the term "dictator," even when journalist Jorge Ramos pressed him to clarify if he recognized those regimes as such.
Key Questions about Trump and Mamdani's Meeting
What was the main focus of the meeting between Trump and Mamdani?
The main focus of the meeting was their shared commitment to serve New Yorkers effectively, despite their differing political views.
How did the U.S. House of Representatives respond to socialism following Mamdani's election?
In response to Mamdani's election, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning socialism, gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans.
What are some key elements of Mamdani's platform as mayor?
Key elements of Mamdani's platform include free city-wide bus service, universal childcare, rent control, and affordable municipally owned supermarkets.