How Zohran Mamdani won over Donald Trump — for now

Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as they meet in the Oval Office on November 21, 2025. | Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images In a triumphant election-night speech earlier this month, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani addressed President Donald Trump directly, telling the president to “turn the volume up.” Trump has repeatedly called Mamdani a “Communist” and questioned his citizenship status. But when the two met in the Oval Office on Friday, it was all strikingly cordial — almost affectionate. “Hopefully, you’ll have a really great mayor,” Tr