The president and the mayor-elect said they found common ground in a cordial meeting focused on the future of New York City.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump welcomed newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the White House on Nov. 21 to discuss plans for the city.
Anticipation built throughout the day as hundreds of reporters from outlets around the world waited near the West Wing portico to witness the arrival of Mamdani.
The wait proved fruitless as he entered the complex undetected through an undisclosed side entrance.
The meeting between the two men, who traded barbs over the past few months, was cordial and constructive, according to both.
Here are five key takeaways from their discussions.
Trump, Mamdani Find Common Ground
The president told reporters in the Oval Office that the talk focused on the two leaders’ commonalities.
“We had a meeting today that actually surprised me,” Trump said.
He repeatedly mentioned that shared objectives overshadowed ideological contrasts.
Both agreed they set aside their differences to work toward a successful future.
“It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, noting that approximately 8.5 million people reside in the city with the highest cost of living nationwide.
“I know there might be differences about ideology, but the place of agreement is the work that needs to be done to make New York City affordable.”
Looking to Lower Housing Costs
The two said that more housing is needed to increase supply and reduce prices.
“He wants to see a lot of houses created, a lot of apartments built,” Trump said. “And, actually, people would be shocked, but I want to see the same thing.”
The average price of a home in New York City is approximately $800,000, according to online real estate firm Zillow.
The incoming mayor echoed the sentiment and told of meeting Trump voters while on the campaign trail who shared similar concerns about prices and quality of life.
“We focus on the same cost of living, and that’s where I am really looking forward to delivering for New Yorkers in partnership with the president on the affordability agenda,” Mamdani said.
Reducing energy and food costs are top-of-mind priorities for both.
“If I can get prices down, it’s good for New York,” Trump said.
Both Want to Reduce Crime
The president underscored his commitment to improving public safety nationwide while describing his in-depth talks with Mamdani about crime.
“The mayor wants to have peace,” Trump said.
“So, we’re going to work together. We’re going to make sure that if there are horrible people there, we want to get them out.”
Mamdani vowed to keep the New York City Police Department (NYPD) headcount at 35,000 and prioritize responses to improve performance.
“I look forward to delivering public safety with the NYPD,” he said. “I think the key thing is that we have to make it easier for police to focus on police work, not ask them to respond to 200,000 mental health calls.”
City police statistics reveal 275 murders and more than 107,000 violent crime complaints so far this year.
