Alexandar Sullivan:
New Yorkers reacted with measured hope after New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, long a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, received a surprisingly warm welcome during a White House meeting on Friday. The president, who has spent months attacking Mamdani as a “lunatic” and “100% Communist,” struck a conciliatory tone. Many New Yorkers, conditioned to political whiplash, responded with cautious optimism.
“I really don’t like the guy,” Manhattan resident John Lani said of Mamdani, “but I’m glad he was able to go in there and do a good job with the president. Maybe we’ll get some funding … maybe we’ll get some stuff for the subway.”
The stakes are high. Federal cooperation could determine the fate of major infrastructure projects, the city’s approach to immigration enforcement and Mamdani’s expansive affordability agenda — including free buses, universal childcare and rent freezes. Trump, who said he would “feel very comfortable” living in Mamdani’s New York, now insists he expects to “be helping him, not hurting him.”
Still, Mamdani has not softened his criticisms. On Meet the Press, he reaffirmed past remarks calling Trump a “despot” and “fascist.” Trump brushed off the comments, joking, “I’ve been called much worse.”
Even New Yorkers who didn’t vote for either man saw tactical value. “You have to bow down, praise him, and walk out and wash your hands after,” said Steve Cohen, who believes Mamdani approached the meeting strategically.
Political analysts note both leaders stand to gain: Mamdani gets a chance to secure desperately needed federal support, while Trump showcases bipartisanship on affordability issues dominating national polls.
For now, residents remain hopeful but wary — as New Yorkers tend to be — waiting to see whether the handshake in Washington translates into relief at home.
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