The first meeting between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani took place on Friday at the White House. Both men left the room showing calm faces and shared goals. This was surprising to many, since they had spoken against each other for months. Yet they agreed to work on housing, food prices, and other basic needs that affect New York’s working families. Trump said he did not expect the meeting to go so well. He said he agreed with more of Mamdani’s ideas than he once thought possible. He even stepped in at times to block harsh questions from reporters. The warm tone marked a clear shift from the past months, when Trump often used sharp words to attack the incoming mayor. Mamdani won the race for New York mayor with a strong lead. He calls himself a democratic socialist, and his win surprised many in both major political groups. Trump had once called him a “lunatic”. Yet in the meeting, Trump praised the young leader and said he felt sure Mamdani could do well in the new job. Trump said it did not matter which party Mamdani came from. He said he only cared about making New York strong and safe. He added that he wanted the city to become a place where people can afford to live and feel secure. He shook hands with Mamdani and called his mayoral win “an amazing race”. Mamdani said the meeting worked well because he pushed the focus toward daily needs rather than ideology. He said their talk came from a shared love for New York. He said they spoke about rising rent, groceries, and utility bills. He explained that many people feel pushed out of the city, and he hopes to stop that trend. Trump added that some of their ideas match more than the public thinks. He said they both want lower crime and more housing. This meeting was the first face-to-face talk between them, and it tested whether Mamdani could work with a president who controls large federal resources. Mamdani’s team had reached out first to set up the meeting. This came even after Trump had said he might block federal funds if Mamdani took office. Trump later softened his tone, telling a news channel that he wanted the new mayor to succeed because he loves New York. Before the meeting, there were signs of pressure. Immigration officials planned to increase actions in the city. Some far-right lawmakers even raised questions about Mamdani’s citizenship, despite the fact that he became a naturalized citizen in 2018 after moving from Uganda as a child. Mamdani’s group spent the day before the meeting speaking with many political leaders to prepare. They discussed how to approach the talk and how to push for support on issues like rent and food prices. Mamdani said he was not worried about the meeting turning hostile. When asked if he feared treatment similar to a tense meeting Trump once had with Ukraine’s president, he said he would stand up for New Yorkers every day. The new mayor ran on a plan to make New York more affordable. His ideas include free public buses, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes for more than a million units, and a universal childcare plan. He saw this meeting as a chance to make his case directly. He said it was his duty to explore every path to help lower costs in the city. The White House press secretary said the president’s willingness to meet proved he was open to talks across political lines. She said he would meet with anyone if it helped the American people. Still, the past tension between them was real. Trump had stepped into the mayoral race, backed a different candidate, and used sharp words for Mamdani. His administration also cut funds for major rail and subway projects in earlier budget talks. Even so, some voters show overlap between them. Trump had low approval in the city overall, but a small share of his supporters voted for Mamdani. This suggests that both men appeal to certain working-class voters who want lower costs and better living conditions. The meeting ended with both sides showing hope. They agreed to keep talking. Both said they want to make life easier for New Yorkers.