Following months of public disagreements, President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani convened on Friday, in a meeting that appeared significantly more amicable than supporters of either politician likely anticipated.

After a brief afternoon meeting, journalists were invited into the Oval Office, where Trump was observed at his desk with Mamdani standing beside him. Both were smiling warmly as they discussed a productive exchange. While acknowledging significant policy disagreements, both leaders emphasized discovering common ground in areas such as public safety and affordability, including shared objectives to construct more housing in New York City and improve crime reduction efforts.

“I anticipate assisting him, not impeding him,” Trump stated. “A considerable assistance.”

“We concur on far more than I had imagined,” Trump later added. When asked if he would now feel comfortable residing in New York City under Mamdani’s leadership, Trump affirmed he would after Friday’s discussion.

Mamdani, a state assemblymember, disrupted the Democratic establishment by unseating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the over the summer and again prevailing against him earlier this month. The 34-year-old Democratic socialist has openly criticized Trump, particularly concerning the President’s strict immigration policies. During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to and New York City.

Trump, conversely, launched repeated public assaults on Mamdani, inaccurately labeling him. When questioned about his reaction to Mamdani’s pledge to resist immigration enforcement agents within the city, Trump responded, “We’ll have to arrest him.” This threat elicited a strong reaction from Mamdani, who characterized it as “an assault on our democracy” and “intimidation.”

The evening preceding the general election, Trump Mamdani’s primary opponent, Cuomo. The President that, should Mamdani win, he would consider withholding certain federal funds from New York City.

However, despite the overt antagonism between the two politicians, Mamdani revealed earlier in the week that his team had requested a meeting with Trump. He informed reporters on Thursday that it is “customary” for the incoming mayor of New York City to meet with the President “given their mutual reliance.”

“My team reached out due to a promise I made to New Yorkers that I would be willing to meet with anyone and everyone, provided it benefited the 8.5 million residents who call the city home and their struggle to afford the most expensive city in the United States of America,” he conveyed to on Wednesday.

Trump had previously indicated his openness to meeting with the incoming mayor, telling reporters on Sunday, “We desire to see everything unfold positively for New York.” On Wednesday evening, he confirmed his agreement to meet later in the week—while once more referring to Mamdani as a “communist.”