According to BBC information, Trump showed a positive attitude, noting that he and Mamdani have "more in common than he could have assumed." He also added: "We both wish for a successful future for our beloved city."
Mamdani, who advocates democratic socialism and stands for the rights of minorities and immigrants, previously won a convincing victory in the mayoral elections in early November. In contrast, Trump had urged voters to support his party mate Andrew Cuomo, whom Mamdani ultimately lost to.
In the past, Trump had spoken negatively about Mamdani, calling him a communist and threatening to cut funding for New York. Mamdani, in turn, referred to Trump as a "despot" and a "fascist." Despite this, the meeting took place in an atmosphere of goodwill, reporters noted.
After speaking with Mamdani, Trump expressed confidence that the new mayor would be able to handle his duties: "The better he works, the more satisfied I will be." When asked about his previous comments, Trump stated that Mamdani "will change." He added that he himself had changed his views.
When journalists asked Mamdani if he considered Trump a "fascist," he smiled and answered "yes," which elicited laughter from those present. Trump, for his part, noted that his opinions about Mamdani are not as critical as one might expect.
During the meeting, both sides tried to avoid confrontation despite existing disagreements. Trump noted that some of Mamdani's views are "a bit beyond the pale," while Mamdani touched on the actions of the U.S. Immigration Service, with which many city residents were dissatisfied.
Nevertheless, Trump emphasized the need to combat crime, stating: "He doesn't want crime, and neither do I." Mamdani, in turn, stressed that his goal is to serve the residents of New York, rather than focus on disagreements.
At the age of 34, Mamdani will become the youngest mayor of New York in over a century, as well as the first Muslim and person of African descent to hold this position (he was born in Uganda). His campaign, which started from a low level of recognition, quickly gained popularity thanks to the internet and led to his victory in the primaries.
The elections in New York have become an indicator of Americans' reaction to the beginning of Trump's second presidential term, Reuters notes.
