President Donald Trump on Friday warmly welcomed one of America’s most powerful self-described democratic socialists to the Oval Office, saying he hopes New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has a “great” term that builds a safer and more affordable Big Apple — after harshly criticizing him for months.
“The better he does, the happier I am. I will say there’s no difference in party. There’s no difference in anything,” Trump told reporters while seated behind the Resolute Desk with Mamdani standing beside him. “And we’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true, to having a strong and very safe New York. And congratulations, Mr. Mayor.”
Trump said some of his views of Mamdani have changed and expressed confidence the Democrat could do “a very good job.” He said the bulk of their private conversation had focused on keeping New York safe. And in a sign of how the views of populist politicians on the left and right can touch, like a horseshoe, the president later added, “Some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have.”
