In a significant political development, US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani convened at the White House on November 21, 2025. The meeting, held in the Oval Office, marked a notable shift from the previously strained relations between the two leaders. Both Trump and Mamdani described their discussions as productive, focusing on collaborative efforts to enhance the quality of life in New York City, the nation’s largest metropolis. Trump expressed his support for Mamdani’s success, stating, ‘The better he does, the happier I am.’ Mamdani, on his part, emphasized his commitment to tackling the affordability crisis in one of the country’s most expensive cities. This cordial exchange starkly contrasts with the animosity that characterized their interactions earlier in the year. In July 2025, Trump had threatened to arrest Mamdani if he interfered with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, following Mamdani’s pledge to protect undocumented immigrants in New York. Mamdani’s historic election as the first Muslim mayor of New York City on November 4, 2025, underscores the evolving political landscape and the potential for renewed cooperation between local and federal leadership.