US President Donald Trump has praised the electoral victory of Zohran Mamdani, the incoming New York City mayor, during their first in-person meeting at the White House. The meeting, which took place on Friday, marked a surprise display of cordiality between the two political opposites. Trump expressed confidence in Mamdani’s ability to do a “very good job” as mayor, despite their differences in ideology.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state lawmaker, had requested the meeting to discuss cost-of-living issues and public safety. The two leaders appeared to have found common ground, with Trump stating that they “agreed on a lot more than I thought.” Mamdani added that the meeting was “productive” and focused on their shared love for New York City and the need to deliver affordability to its residents.

The meeting comes after months of public insults and criticism between the two. Trump had previously branded Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and predicted that his policies would drive New Yorkers out of the city. However, during their meeting, Trump seemed to have softened his stance, saying that he believes Mamdani can surprise some conservative people with his performance.

Mamdani’s victory in the mayoral race earlier this month was seen as a significant upset, despite the city’s heavily Democratic leanings. His campaign had faced opposition from conservatives and lukewarm support from mainstream Democrats. The meeting with Trump has raised eyebrows, given their vastly different political views and previous public disagreements.

The two leaders’ ability to find common ground may be seen as a positive development, particularly in areas such as cost-of-living and public safety. As Mamdani prepares to take office, his ability to work with the federal government and balance the city’s budget will be closely watched. The meeting with Trump may be a sign that Mamdani is willing to engage with his critics and work towards finding solutions to the city’s problems.