It had been posited that President Donald Trump’s meeting with the mayor-elect of New York City could be a fiery display of opposites, but the president was full of praise — and pledges of cooperation — for Zohran Mamdani.
Watch Trump’s remarks in the video player above.
There were the jovial pats on the arm, as Mamdani stood alongside Trump seated at the desk, facing reporters.
WATCH: Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani meet in the Oval Office
There were smiles and a handshake. Color rose in Mamdani’s cheeks when he was asked if he still thought Trump was a fascist, as he’s previously referenced him — and Trump told him it was “OK” to just say “yes,” which Mamdani did.
Trump, a New York City native who despite now being a Florida resident, voiced his enduring love for the city. He also said he would be “very, very comfortable” returning there, especially now that he’s met with Mamdani, and that he would help the incoming mayor be successful.
“Ultimately, it’s for the good of New York,” Trump said, of the two men’s goals. “I don’t care about affiliations or parties or anything else. … If he could be a spectacular success, I’d be very happy.”
Trump predicts he and Mamdani will get along on crime
Trump said he and Mamdani discussed crime in New York City, without getting bogged down in their political differences over ICE.
“What we did is we discussed crime, more than ICE per se, we discussed crime. He doesn’t want to see crime and I don’t want to see crime,” Trump said. “And I have very little doubt that we’re not going to get along on that issue.”
