“I met with a man who is a very rational person,” Trump said after Friday’s sit-down.
Trump and Mamdani Set Aside Differences
Please note Trump and Mamdani Set Aside Differences During White House Meeting
“I feel very confident that he can do a very good job,” Trump told reporters after the meeting. “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people.”
Both men largely avoided directly criticizing each other in front of live television cameras. “I appreciated the time with the president,” Mamdani said, standing in the Oval Office next to Trump, who was seated at his desk.
When a reporter asked about Mamdani’s previous comment calling Trump a despot, the president quipped, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting.”
Pressed on whether he believed that Trump was a fascist, the president interjected before the mayor-elect could answer, “That’s OK. You can just say ‘yes.’ It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind,” Trump said, while tapping him on the arm.
“I met with a man who is a very rational person,” Trump said after Friday’s sit-down with the mayor-elect. “I met with a man who really wants to see New York be great again.”
Surprise, Surprise
“I think he is going to surprise some conservative people,” said Trump.
Uh … Which way?
Mamdani’s Rational Platform
- Rent Freeze
- Triple the City’s production of permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes
- If a landlord refuses to make a repair, the City will do it and send them the bill.
- Create a network of city-owned grocery stores
- Fast, Free Bus Rides
- No Cost Childcare
- Free of charge, including items including diapers, baby wipes, nursing pads, post-partum pads, swaddles, and books.
- Raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, bringing in $5 billion.
- Tax the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers—those earning above $1 million annually—a flat 2% tax
- Green schools for a healthier New York
- LGBTQIA+ Protrections
- Outreach workers will connect every New Yorker in need of reproductive care to affordable, quality support.
- Raise the minimum wage to $30
- Commit 0.5% of NYC’s budget to libraries, ensuring we have enough revenue for robust services and well-staffed facilities
- Trump-Proof New York City
In case you think I am making that up, it’s straight from Zohran Mamdani’s Platform to make New York City more affordable. Take a look.
“I met with a man who is a very rational person. I met with a man who really wants to see New York be great again,” said Trump.
Rational is not exactly the word I would use to describe any idea on Mamdani’s platform.
Bizarre Meeting
CNN comments on the bizarrely chummy Trump-Mamdani meeting
Among Trump’s comments:
- “I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people, actually.”
- “Some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have.”
- “We agree on a lot more than I would’ve thought.”
- “I think this mayor can do some things that are going to be really great.”
“I’m looking forward to working together to deliver on that affordability agenda,” [said Mamdani].
“He doesn’t want to see crime, and I don’t want to see crime,” Trump said. “And I have very little doubt that we’re not gonna get along on that issue.”
What’s It All About?
To the extent there was a political calculation here, it’s possible the White House didn’t really want to get into it with Mamdani right now. After all, this is a candidate who was so successful on precisely the issue on which Trump is really struggling right now: affordability and cost of living.
Yes, so let’s embrace socialist ideals to win votes.
Just tell us who he is winning votes from.
Irony of the Day
“It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, “because that’s who the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country.”
Vice President JD Vance joked that he “might have a stomach bug” to avoid meeting Mamdani.
GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida late Friday morning called Mamdani a “literal communist” and predicted he was “on his way to the White House to be schooled by President Trump.”
Hoot of the Day
Republicans spent months criticizing Mamdani a “literal communist”.
Now every one of these hypocrites will be calling this 8-D chess or whatever, defending Trump’s brilliant strategy to make press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, and others including Vice President Vance look like fools.
Since Trump says “Some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have,” accept that as fact.
Now please go through the platform list above and tell us where the agreement is.
Thank you for your attention.
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November 18, 2025: Hoot of the Day: Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks Texas Gerrymandering
The multiple-irony setup is stunning.
November 21, 2025: Trump Accuses 6 Members of Congress of Sedition, Demands Arrest and Trial
November 19, 2025: Court Accuses Trump’s Justice Dept of “Reckless Disregard of the Law”
Look what’s going on in the Comey case. Plus a re-look at gerrymandering.
Meanwhile, for those living in the real world, please consider The Grumpy Economist Takes On New York City Rent Controls
My take is that Mamdani played Trump like a fiddle, which is exactly what he should be doing.
It’s really too bad Mandani didn’t meet with a rational man.
I have friends with different politics. Why is Trump different from most of us?
Really? Have you considered his ego as a possible factor in all of this?
Nothing wrong with meeting political opponents, and Mamdani is extremely affable and charismatic so it’s natural for Trump to like him. Mamdani’s platform looks solid as long as it can be funded by taxes, if he is able to actually implement it he will likely become one of NYC’s longest serving mayors. However, I just don’t think a mayor has the authority to enact such drastic changes.
Trump got something. That’s all it takes. A compliment and a payoff
““I met with a man who is a very rational person,” Trump said after Friday’s sit-down.
Remember all you TDS infested Trump haters, everything he says is either a lie or an exaggeration, so I don’t think he was being honest about Mamdani.
TDS makes trumpies think they’re patriots
You don’t need hate to spot a piece of crap
OMG, James, please stop or you might make me cry.
Thank you for reminding the TDS crowd Trump lies. How else would they know? /s
Mayors come and go.
Presidents come and go.
New policies come and go.
When we will see the right direction?
The system is unstable and has default weakness.
Well I can say this much. When the Dems run TACO out of town, after they win back Congress next Nov, I don’t foresee America swinging in the “right direction”:
Full Trump impeachment with Senate confirmation
No more filibuster
Packed SCOTUS
No more 1A & 2A rights
Reopening of borders
Massive deficits
Single-payer, universal healthcare
UBI
DEI out the wazoo
Antifa & Pro-Palestine takeover of policing
Can’t wait!
You missed sex changes at will, regardless of age.
Obama’s gay chemtrails seem to have also reduced your IQ
Don’t mind me folks I’m just laughing at everyone who wants to go back to 1990-2016 era politics (boomers) crying about this.
No one is falling for this BS, right? Trump, the socialism boot licker?
Once again you selectively cherry pick quotes to fit your personal ORANGE MAN BAD agenda.
Kudos to DJT for the invite and stating that he and Mamdami have different approaches but desire the best version of NYC.
You are correct 2 thieves agreed on how to pluck the Super Bowl shepple…..
“Some of his ideas really are the same ideas that I have.”
“He doesn’t want to see crime, and I don’t want to see crime,” Trump said. “And I have very little doubt that we’re not gonna get along on that issue.”
That’s where the agreement begins and likely ends.
Unfortunately, they have very different different definitions of what constitutes crime.
<<Free of charge, including items including diapers>>
And a free lawyer to get consent from the baby, according to “experts”:
https://nypost.com/2025/11/17/lifestyle/parents-should-ask-babies-for-consent-before-changing-their-diapers-experts/
<<LGBTQIA+ Protrections>>
By the Muslim coallition. A ha ha ha.
Jokes aside, the all friendly image disappoints Mamdani’s supporters who expected him to wage jihad inside the White House. Trump supporters don’t care.
Meanwhile, the big scandal in Minessota with millions sent to terrorist groups is unravelling.
Typical taco response. Due to Mamdani’s victory, taco is concerned about his declining poll numbers among NYC residents and the former’s recent success. Taco doesn’t do anything unless he believes it is in HIS or HIS FAMILY’s benefit. WHAT A POS.
bingo. the winner.
POS? “Point-of-Sale?” I used to install those when I was in banking and ATMs.
You’re only about three decades behind, so you’re doing better than usual today.
Oh come on Tony, do live in NYC? NY State?
While he genuinely cares about NYC, he has property there, he knows its a liberals wet dream. I highly doubt he worries about his polls in NY City, When the hell has a Presidential running democrat not won NY?
Some of you guys just say some ridiculous shit when you want to talk about Trump
Which is appartently every freaking day here
Trump has a lot more in common with a Socialist ! Gee, I’m so surprised. NOT!
Always start with the premise that Fat Donnie (AKA piggy) is senile.
And remember he is and has been mentally ill. narcissistic personality disorder +++
There’s nothing to say here but….
Got exit strategy?
you ever read, harry browne’s “how i found freedom in a unfree world”. up your alley. a decent read if you ignore the total nihilism in it.
No haven’t read Harry Browne. Right now I am focused on Allan Kardec’s works given my disillusionment with it all.
Have you purchased your tickets yet?
Heard Antigua is nice this time of year. Said any day of the year.
“…“We agree on a lot more than I would’ve thought.”” For me this translates to “He sucked up to me and seems loyal and I think he will do what I want him too”
Piggie got his socks charmed off his cancles by the liberal antichrist. You little piggies must be so proud.
Freudian slip: “I have very little doubt that we’re not going to get along on that issue.” As stated, that literally means Trump says they won’t get along. But…..
Fascism is not that far from Communism. Both own the means of production in some ways. Think Nazi-ism, the National Socialist Workers Party. In Trump’s case, taking stakes in private enterprise (Intel, MP, etc.), is doing just that. I hate to say that, because I used to think it was ridiculous to call Trump a Fascist.
But not only prop up “private” enterprise, but prop up the proletariat with $2000 checks or other methods tantamount to checks.
Worst of both worlds.
Free market capitalism is getting ready to seal the coffin on its still breathing body.
“…I used to think it was ridiculous to call Trump a Fascist.” How long ago? 15 minutes ago? 3 days ago? 6 months ago? 10 years ago?
For me, Trump has always wanted to be a dictator/tyrant and anything that he sees as giving him more power is what is in vogue that day – Facism has been on the slate since before 2015.
i saw the donald live in july 2015 speak at the freedomfest. 2 weeks after he announced at trump tower. it was obvious to me he had the most intense grasp on an audience i had ever seen in my long life of being a political and social activist for peace and prosperity. i remarked to my pals at CATO, we just saw benito mussolini re incarnated. i happen to have an italian passport to pair with my queens nyc birth certificate and amerikan passport. trump is our generations greatest actor and politician. Zohran is very talented, too. but just not in the same league. trump’s first run for public office was POTUS. mamdani is typical politician starting low level as a state representative in albany. a sewer of machine politics.
Nate, let’s celebrate the conversion instead of criticizing the timing of it. We need more people on our side, we don’t need to lecture them on not arriving sooner. Let’s focus on the task at hand.
Fascism is not a governing political/economic philosophy like “democratic capitalism” or “totalitarian communism”. Fascism is a philosophy for gaining power. Hitler and Mussolini both used fascism to gain power, but ran their countries very differently. The key to fascism is to recognize a key trait of humans: the need to belong to a group (tribalism). A few key fascist proscriptions for gaining and keeping power (what followers should believe):
Human beings are naturally tribal and fascism just recognizes that and takes it to an extreme in order to gain power. It is fundamentally anti-democratic. A good democracy is designed to take all sides of an issue into account and find solutions that minimize harm. Fascism is designed to impose one groups solution onto everyone else and cause harm to the out groups. The “causing harm” is important because it unites the good tribe.
mussolini called fascism, corporatism. he was correct. they were fighting the commies, and the industrialists. fascism is the state uses power to control NOT own the companies. it’s between left and right. diabolical genius.
Donald admires anyone who gets lots of TV media attention. Since Don believes in nothing, it matters not what the other guy believes or feels. All that matters is he is somewhat famous.
I agree. Also, Trump is always interested in a fellow New Yorker.
a lot of what Mamdani says is populist, like Trump.
Also, Trump respects charming guys and so I’m not that shocked it went well.
doesn’t mean much. As someone who lives in NYC but didn’t vote for Mamdani, i hope he does well.
As an insider, the Donald can recognize a colleague, albeit from the other marketing team.
Trump is making America great again. Mamdani will do the same for NYC. What is Mish worried about? Both have a money tree.
They are destroying America with socialism from opposite ends (corporate vs. hoi polloi), and will meet in the middle with nothing left (or right) between them.
Trump has done nothing to make the USA great overall, the great part is remaking the USA in the image of fascists and racists, and I’m neither so I don’t consider that progress but rather regression.
Trump isn’t a small government guy. He isn’t a conservative. He is the low information low IQ drunk at the bowling alley bar with strong opinions on everything and strong knowledge of nothing with the ego of 18th century European royalty. Of course he thinks Mamdani is rational.
Ah the honey moon period. Everyone in trumps orbit loses at some point. Ask mtg