Though President Donald Trump needled Zohran Mamdani repeatedly during the campaign, he was full of praise Friday for the mayor-elect of New York City.
Watch Trump’s remarks in the video player above.
“We have one thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do incredibly well,” Trump said. He also praised Mamdani’s election performance, adding that he’d beaten “a lot of smart people” in the race.
New York City’s mayor-elect told reporters his meeting with President Donald Trump was productive, with the two leaders sharing a love of their shared hometown.
WATCH: Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meet in the Oval Office
“I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said in the Oval Office.
Trump dismisses Stefanik calling Mamdani a ‘jihadist’
Trump played down U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik’s criticisms of Mamdani, saying the Republican congresswoman is just “out there campaigning” as she runs for governor of New York.
“And you know, you say things sometimes in a campaign,” Trump said.
He continued, calling Mamdani “a very rational person” and said “I met with a man who really wants New York to be great again.”
Trump says he’d live in Mamdani’s New York
Since the self-described democratic socialist’s election, several conservatives have suggested that middle class and wealthy New Yorkers may want to leave the city. But Trump isn’t one of them.
Asked if he’d be comfortable living in the city under the incoming mayor, the president said: “I really would, especially after the meeting,” Trump said.
He added that he picked up a lot of votes from Sen. Bernie Sanders, another self-described democratic socialist who unsuccessfully competed for the Democratic presidential nominations in 2016 and 2020.
“Bernie Sanders and I agreed on much more than people thought,” Trump said.
