Trump calls meeting with Mamdani ‘productive,’ says he hopes he will be a ‘great Mayor’

US President Donald Trump on Friday called his meeting with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani “very productive,” signalling an end to the sharp exchanges that had marked the election campaign.

During the interaction, a journalist asked Mamdani whether he believed Trump was a fascist. Before Mamdani could answer, Trump interjected: “That’s okay. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Throughout the campaign, Trump had backed Democratic former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent but lost to Mamdani, the clear winner. Trump had also threatened to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani prevailed and repeatedly labelled him a “communist.”

Asked if he would feel comfortable staying in New York in the future, Trump told CNN: “I really would – especially after the meeting.”

“We agree on a lot more than I really thought,” the President said, adding: “We’ve just had a great meeting — a really good, very productive meeting. We have one thing in common, which is we want this city of ours that we love to do very well.”

Trump said he congratulated Mamdani and discussed shared priorities, including housing, rising food prices, and declining oil prices.

Extending a warm welcome, Trump said he expected Mamdani to be a “great Mayor.”

“The better he does, the happier I am. I will say there’s no difference in party,” Trump said.

Mamdani will take office on January 1.