Washington: President Donald  Trump and New York City mayor elect Zohran Mamdani held their first face to face meeting at the White House on Friday, marking a surprising shift in tone after months of political clashes during the election campaign.

The meeting in the Oval Office lasted around twenty minutes and focused mainly on issues that affect everyday life in New York City. Both leaders said the talks were productive and centred on housing, rising living costs and making life more affordable for residents. The two avoided sensitive national political topics and instead concentrated on matters they agreed needed urgent attention.

President Trump said after the meeting that Mamdani shared several ideas that matched his own views on improving life in large cities. He described the discussion as very good and said that both of them cared about making their city do well. He also added that he would feel comfortable living in New York under Mamdani’s leadership.

The positive tone was notable because Trump had sharply criticised Mamdani during the mayoral race and supported his opponent. At that time he had referred to Mamdani in harsh terms and warned that his policies would weaken the city. Friday’s conversation was therefore seen as a major change from the earlier campaign atmosphere.

Mamdani also described the meeting as useful. He said he raised concerns about the high cost of groceries, rents and utilities, which have been troubling families across all boroughs. According to him, the President expressed interest in understanding these issues and in finding practical solutions that could help residents.

There were also moments that showed a lighter interaction between the two. When a reporter questioned why Mamdani had travelled by air instead of train, Trump stepped in to defend him. Observers at the White House described the body language between them as warm and cooperative, something few expected after their earlier public disagreements.

Political analysts say the meeting could signal a more practical relationship between the federal government and New York City after the election. For Trump, showing a willingness to work with Mamdani may help widen support on issues like housing and urban development. For Mamdani, the meeting gives him an early opportunity to build a working relationship with Washington before taking office.

It remains to be seen how the cooperation will develop, especially when bigger and more divisive issues come up in the future. For now, both sides appear keen to keep the focus on easing living costs and improving services for millions of New Yorkers.

More discussions between their teams are expected in the coming weeks as Mamdani prepares for his first days in office.