Trump changes tone on New York mayor-elect: “a very rational man”

On November 21, US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met at the White House in an unusual display of bipartisanship.

Once fierce critics of each other, the two now signalled a willingness to cooperate on the future of America’s largest city, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Speaking after the meeting, President Trump praised Mamdani as a “very rational man” committed to making New York “great again.” Mamdani, who will become the city’s first Muslim mayor, stressed that their discussion focused on shared goals rather than political differences.

During a briefing in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I met a man who really wants to make New York great again. He is very rational.” The President also distanced himself from his earlier campaign criticisms, in which he labelled Mamdani a communist—a claim echoed by some Republican figures who accused the mayor-elect of extremism. “People change,” Trump added.

Mamdani echoed the call for unity, highlighting that both he and Trump share clear perspectives but chose to focus on common objectives. “I value that our meeting did not centre on our differences, but on serving New Yorkers,” he said. The mayor-elect identified the city’s cost-of-living crisis as the most pressing issue, affecting some 8.5 million residents.

The meeting also addressed past mutual accusations. Mamdani had previously described Trump as a fascist and vowed to be his “worst nightmare.” He now said he preferred to concentrate on what unites them. Trump, in turn, advised Mamdani with his trademark humour to “just say yes” when asked about previous comments.

Both politicians emphasised that tackling New York’s high living costs must be a priority, noting that citizens from across the political spectrum expect tangible action.

By Aghakazim Guliyev