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Investing.com -- President Donald Trump expressed confidence in New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during a meeting at Trump Tower on Friday, suggesting the progressive politician might surprise conservative critics.
"I think he is going to surprise some conservative people," Trump said of Mamdani. "I feel very confident that he can do a very good job."
The meeting between the Republican president-elect and the incoming Democratic mayor focused on addressing New York City’s affordability crisis, with particular emphasis on housing development.
"We talked about housing, getting housing built," Trump noted, adding that Mamdani "ran incredible race against smart people."
When asked about previously calling Mamdani a "communist" with views "a little out there," Trump downplayed those characterizations, suggesting political evolution is normal. "We all change. I change a lot," Trump said.
Mamdani, who has previously criticized Trump harshly, calling him a "despot" with a "fascist agenda," described the meeting as productive despite their differences.
"What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers," Mamdani said.
The mayor-elect highlighted their discussions about rent, groceries, utilities, and "different ways in which people are being pushed out" of New York City, which he described as "the most expensive city in the United States of America."
Trump also mentioned economic improvements, claiming Thanksgiving costs this year are "exactly 25% less than last year" according to Walmart, which he characterized as "good for New York, good for everybody."
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