In many ways — from background to ideology — President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani differ sharply, yet their shared populist appeal set the stage for a surprisingly cordial first meeting in the Oval Office on Friday.

After months of trading public insults, the two leaders struck a friendly tone, shaking hands and exchanging compliments. Trump called the meeting “very productive” and said it went better than he expected, with both men noting more common ground than anticipated.

They emphasized shared priorities such as affordability, supporting peace efforts in the Middle East, and improving outcomes for New York City. Mamdani highlighted that a notable share of his voters also supported Trump, reinforcing areas of overlapping concern.

When asked about their earlier attacks, both brushed off the tension. Trump dismissed past comments, and the two downplayed earlier threats, including Trump’s suggestion that he might cut federal funds to New York City over Mamdani’s socialist policies.

Their cordial discussion contrasted with the heated rhetoric of the mayoral campaign, where Trump had labeled Mamdani a “communist” and backed Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani had criticized Trump’s administration as “authoritarian,” even using his victory speech to challenge the president directly.

Despite ideological differences and criticism of Mamdani’s socialist proposals, the meeting ended on an optimistic note. Trump praised Mamdani as “very rational,” and both expressed interest in cooperating to make New York more affordable, safer, and more livable.