By Yasmine El-Sabawi in Washington
Published date: 21 November 2025 22:35 GMT

It was, perhaps, the warmest reception by Donald Trump yet for a political figure diametrically opposed to his policies. The US president has called New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani a "communist," a "jihadist", and a "Jew-hater".

Mamdani has called Trump a "despot" and a "fascist".

But at their highly anticipated meeting at the White House on Friday, Trump lavished unexpected praise on Mamdani after their first-ever face-to-face discussion, which lasted some 40 minutes.

"I'll be cheering for him," Trump told reporters gathered around his desk, where he sat with Mamdani standing to his right.