President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met Friday in the Oval Office, marking their first face-to-face encounter after months of publicly criticizing each other.

Trump has repeatedly called Mamdani a “100% Communist lunatic” and a “total nut job,” while Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has described Trump’s administration as “authoritarian” and himself as “Trump’s worst nightmare.” Despite the political friction, both signaled willingness to discuss shared priorities for the city.

In a Fox News Radio interview Friday morning, Trump said he expected the meeting to be “quite civil,” noting that they share the goal of strengthening New York. Mamdani, who takes office in January, sought the meeting to explore ways to improve affordability in the city.

The session comes after a contentious mayoral race in which Trump backed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, questioned Mamdani’s citizenship, and warned he could face arrest over immigration-related policies. Mamdani won the election, portraying Cuomo as a “puppet” of Trump and emphasizing his progressive and immigrant identity.

Observers noted that the meeting offers both men a high-profile platform. For Trump, it provides a chance to address voter concerns about the cost of living, while Mamdani can present his vision directly to the nation’s most powerful figure. The tone of the discussion remained uncertain, with both sides aware of the potential for political theatrics.