New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to prove that charisma and political savvy are a decent strategy for winning over Republican leaders, even as the GOP tries to fearmonger about purported far-left politicians infiltrating the Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections.
The mayor met with President Donald Trump at Gracie Mansion on Sept. 21 ahead of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York City later in the week. It was the third time the duo has met since Mamdani was elected in November, and it marked the first time a U.S. president has visited the mayor’s residence since President Ronald Reagan visited Mayor Edward Koch in 1981.
And while it was unclear what the two men would be talking about aside from issues
affecting New Yorkers, it seems that the meeting went well. They walked out together to speak with reporters after the meeting, which lasted over an hour.
“Each time the president and I speak, it is about the same topics: how to improve the lives of New Yorkers, and how to use the power of government to take on the cost of living crisis, to grow our economy, and to build a better, stronger New York,” Mamdani told reporters following the meeting, adding that he is willing to meet with people he disagrees with if it results in a better life for New Yorkers.
According to the mayor and the president, the two men spoke about Sunnyside Yard, a major development in Queens that Trump is particularly interested in. The development could create 12,000 affordable housing units if the project goes through.
Trump continues to have a cheery, almost friendly relationship with Mamdani, even though the mayor doesn’t seem to feel nearly as warm toward him. What continues to be unclear is what’s motivating Trump to keep up a positive relationship with New York City, aside from his hometown ties. It also doesn't really matter.
What Mamdani has proved is that playing both sides doesn't mean striving for palatability to imaginary, unwinnable voters. It means understanding that principled populism casts a wide net.
Mamdani is handling Trump how no other Democrat can
Mamdani is clearly respected by Trump, something other Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer can’t say. After all, neither is getting called “my little communist” by the president – they’re not getting attention from him at all.
It’s not because Mamdani refuses to use strong language to condemn the president – after all, the mayor literally affirmed that he believes Trump to be a “fascist” during their first meeting in November. Nor is it because Mamdani has sidestepped any strong political actions against the president.
On Sept. 14, a coalition of counties and cities, including New York, announced they were suing the Trump administration over a new rule that would allow the federal government to deny green cards to immigrants based on their use of public services.
Mamdani seems to understand something that other Democrats don’t: If you want to get things done for your constituents, you must play nice while still standing your ground.
Ultimately, he and Trump can agree on affordability issues, so that is where they are focusing their energy. In doing so, they are both providing wins for their respective political parties – meaning all New Yorkers win, regardless of who they voted for.
Democrats can use Trump's populist inclinations
Of course, the president has motives of his own.
"I feel strongly about taking care of people," Trump told reporters outside Gracie Mansion.
That's the first I've heard of this, but it's a sign that he probably sees Mamdani as the key to winning over a subsection of Republican voters who support the Make America Great Again movement and democratic socialism.
Trump’s approval rating is abysmal – a Reuters/Ipsos poll released the day of the meeting showed that only 32% of the country believes the president is doing a good job.
It’s possible he’s trying to borrow some of the goodwill Mamdani enjoys – the mayor’s approval rating sits at 58% among New York City residents and 47% with New Yorkers across the state.
It’s also possible that Trump is more open to socialism than he publicly admits. We've been observing the president supporting populist ideas, like Freedom Fuel, Trump Accounts and TrumpRx.
It seems that some young Republicans realize what they're supporting. In a 2025 survey, 42% of young conservatives said they want to see a democratic socialist become president in 2028. It seems there's more overlap than talking heads on either side of the political spectrum care to admit.
Ultimately, while it seems as though Trump is more fond of Mamdani than the mayor is of the president, they are ultimately both using their conversations to appeal to their bases and show that politicians can get things done, so long as they focus on areas of agreement.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mamdani is the only Democrat who can handle Trump | Opinion
