Forget the bitter feuds of recent months: Donald Trump and New York’s next Democratic mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged Friday to work together, exchanging smiles and pleasantries in the Oval Office.
“I think you will have, hopefully, a great mayor. The more successful he is, the happier I will be. (…) We will help him realize everyone’s dream, to have a strong and safe New York,” said the American president, who has repeatedly described Zohran Mamdani as a “communist” during his city campaign.
A “shared purpose to serve New Yorkers”
The elected Democrat called his interview with the Republican billionaire “very productive.” He emphasized that their meeting “was not focused on points of disagreement, of which there are many,” but on the “shared goal of serving New Yorkers” to combat the high cost of living, which was his big campaign promise.
During their joint appearance on camera, Donald Trump, also a New Yorker, almost seemed to endorse the 34-year-old Democratic Party politician, predicting that he would “surprise some conservatives.”
Asked about Zohran Mamdani’s past comments, calling him a “despot”, Donald Trump, who can get very irritated, replied in a light tone: “A lot of the things that were said about me were much worse than a despot. So it wasn’t that offensive. Maybe he’ll change his mind. »
The 79-year-old Republican, who has always loved media attention, welcomed the interest generated by the meeting, which led to an influx of journalists into the White House.
“If a program harms New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so”
The American president congratulated his visitors on his “extraordinary” campaign, which began as a complete unknown and ended not only as mayor-elect, but also as a rising star of American progressives.
“He said many of my constituents actually voted for him,” the president said. “One in 10,” the mayor-elect interjected. “That suits me,” concluded the American president.
“I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any program that benefits New Yorkers. If a program harms New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so,” the elected official, a Ugandan-born Muslim from an Indian family, promised before the meeting.
“Good omens” are mentioned
Donald Trump is backing his primary opponent Andrew Cuomo, the state’s Democratic former governor. However on 4 November, Zohran Mamdani won with over 50% of the vote, with a record turnout of over 2 million voters, unprecedented since 1969.
Despite their differences, Zohran Mamdani has been unable to completely break with the American president, who has threatened to cut federal funds intended for New York and send the National Guard to some Democratic strongholds.
While waiting to take office on January 1, the mayoral candidate also sought to reassure those concerned about his lack of experience (his only credential is as a district elected official in the New York State assembly).
After selecting as his right-hand man Dean Fuleihan, a 74-year-old veteran of local politics, Democrats reappointed Jessica Tisch, a professional with a tough profile, credited with reducing crime in New York as police chief.
This nomination did not escape the attention of Donald Trump. “This is a good sign,” he said Friday, noting that the police chief had a friendly relationship with his daughter Ivanka.
“While he has not abandoned his political goals, the fact that Zohran Mamdani is retaining certain senior officials from the (outgoing) administration, whom he has sharply criticized, seems to suggest that his revolution will have some protection,” judge Grant Reeher, a politics professor at Syracuse University.
