The unusual and highly publicized meeting between US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani late Friday night set off a political storm across American media and political circles.
The two men, once fierce rivals who traded personal attacks during the mayoral campaign, appeared unexpectedly cordial and even friendly as they discussed the city's cost of living crisis and potential cooperation between City Hall and the White House.
The conciliatory tone surprised many, particularly in light of their past clashes. Trump, who previously branded Mamdani a "communist," described him after the meeting as "a very rational person" and expressed hope that Mamdani would "do a very good job" as mayor. Mamdani, for his part, emphasized that the conversation focused on "our shared love and appreciation for New York" and the urgent need to address the city's affordability crisis.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, one of the Republican Party's rising stars and a declared candidate for New York governor in 2026, made clear her disapproval. In a post on X, she doubled down on calling Mamdani a "jihadist" and signaled that she and Trump would "have to agree to disagree," after the president refused to adopt her label.
Her rival, incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul, welcomed the very fact of the meeting. In her own post on X, she said she appreciated "Trump's renewed commitment to New York's success" and pledged to work with both the president and the incoming mayor when it benefits state residents, "but I will fight back whenever our values are at risk," she added.
Former Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa accused both men of deceiving the public for the past eight months with staged confrontations, only to present a sudden display of unity. He pointed to the pair's previous exchange of insults, as well as Trump's threats to cut billions in federal aid to the city, calling the meeting "a phony kumbaya charade."
Still, some Republican voices struck a more optimistic note. Vice President JD Vance, who attended the Oval Office meeting, praised the interaction, calling it "one of the president's all-time great moments." He was referring to a lighter moment when Trump jokingly asked Mamdani whether he still viewed him as a fascist. Smiling, Mamdani replied, "It's okay, you can just say yes."
Media coverage largely agreed on the unprecedented nature of the encounter. The New York Times likened the event to a buddy movie tinged with the surreal, calling it a "bromance" between bitter enemies. The New York Post opted for a more sensational tone, describing the scene as a media spectacle.
CNN took a more analytical approach, calling it "a strangely friendly meeting" and noting that the focus on cost of living and economic accessibility allowed the two to temporarily sidestep their ideological divide. Fox News, meanwhile, portrayed the meeting as a win for Trump and proof of the president's pragmatism.
Israel Hayom Summit
Meanwhile, Israel Hayom will launch the Israel Hayom Summit on December 2 at the Hilton Midtown in New York. The event will be hosted by journalist Yoav Limor along with Israel Hayom reporters and commentators, and will feature Dr. Miriam Adelson and tech entrepreneur Yasmin Lukatz.
The gathering seeks to forge bridges of connection and trust linking Israel with Diaspora Jewry, businesses with the US administration, and classical Zionism with the emerging landscape of technology, economics, and global communications. The summit will spotlight the period's central questions – how to build the day after the war, what role the American Jewry plays in shaping Israel's future, and how to preserve mutual responsibility and shared values connecting the Jewish people across the ocean.
