Trump says he hopes Mamdani will be a 'great mayor' after friendly meeting at Gracie Mansion

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he hoped New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani would be a "great mayor" for the city, offering an unusually warm assessment of the democratic socialist leader following a meeting between the two at Gracie Mansion.

Trump and his Republican allies have spent months portraying Mamdani as a symbol of what they describe as the Democratic Party's embrace of "communism," particularly ahead of the November midterm elections. Despite that rhetoric, the two appeared friendly during their public appearance together, continuing a pattern observed in previous meetings between them.

At a news conference following their closed-door meeting, Mamdani described the discussion as "wide-ranging," saying it touched on affordable housing and immigration. He did not offer extensive details regarding any disagreements between the two on those or other issues.

The meeting comes as Mamdani continues to settle into his role as New York's mayor, navigating a relationship with a presidential administration that has been openly critical of his political positions while, in personal interactions, projecting a more cordial tone.

Neither leader elaborated further on specific policy commitments or next steps arising from the discussion.