New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said that they discussed issues driving residents out of the city, including rising rent, groceries and utilities

"We spoke about rent, we spoke about groceries, we spoke about utilities. We spoke about the different ways in which people are being pushed out. I appreciated the time with the president, I appreciated the conversation, and I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers," Mamdani said  

Trump also extended a gesture of goodwill toward Mamdani, suggesting he may even defy expectations across the political spectrum

"I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor. The better he does, the happier I am. I will say there's no difference in party. I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually, and some very liberal people," President Trump said 

Standing beside the president, Mamdani echoed Trump's assessment, describing the discussion as highly productive and focused on urgent cost-of-living challenges facing New Yorkers

"I appreciated the meeting with the president, as he said, it was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, New York City," Mamdani said