US President Donald Trump hosted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday for a meeting that proceeded smoothly despite their sharply contrasting political views.

One of Trump’s notable wins was shifting the narrative about Mamdani, whom he had previously criticized as a “100% Communist Lunatic.” “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought,” Trump said, smiling as he addressed Mamdani respectfully as “Mr. Mayor” and predicted success for his tenure.

Their televised Oval Office meeting drew significant attention, presenting Trump in a more favorable light after weeks of negative coverage linked to files from the late Jeffrey Epstein. With his poll numbers declining, the meeting offered a timely distraction and a chance to reset the political conversation.

Focus on Affordability

Trump and Mamdani focused their discussion on the cost of living and affordability, central issues in Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. Trump spoke at length about reducing housing and grocery costs, while Mamdani emphasized that his campaign reached out to Trump supporters to address their concerns.

“Some of his ideas are the same ideas I have,” Trump noted, highlighting areas of common ground, particularly on housing expansion in New York. By emphasizing economic concerns, both leaders largely avoided contentious issues such as immigration policy and the war in Gaza.

The White House has indicated that cost-of-living concerns will be a top priority for Trump ahead of next year’s midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.

Mamdani Holds His Ground

Mamdani, a Democrat, appeared confident and composed while addressing questions in the Oval Office. He spoke respectfully of Trump but did not shy away from critical topics, including his stance on immigration policies and their impact on New York.

During a discussion about why Mamdani flew to Washington instead of taking a train, Trump intervened in support of the mayor-elect, saying, “I’ll stick up for you. Flying was the fastest way to get to DC from New York.”

Body language

Warmth, familiarity, even fraternity.

In what could have been a contentious meeting between political polar opposites, Trump and Mamdani exuded friendliness in their first get-together since the democratic socialist became New York City’s mayor-elect after beating establishment party figures in the Democratic primary, notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Unlike aggressive meetings Trump has had with some foreign leaders in the same space, the president appeared calm, supportive and even enthusiastic about Mamdani as the two men appeared before cameras.

They displayed amiable body language. Trump shook Mamdani’s hand more than once, patting it with his other in apparent affection, and touched or playfully punched his arm at other times, almost paternally, while they took questions together from the press.

Trump, appearing like an elder statesman, sat at his desk, while Mamdani, the younger upstart, stood next to him, his hands clasped. Trump wore a wide red power tie, Mamdani wore a narrower blue one, both colors corresponding to their respective political party affiliations.

Trump likes winners

Some expected fireworks between the volatile conservative president and the mayor-elect who reaffirmed his embrace of the “democratic socialist” label. Yet the aftermath of the meeting was surprisingly cordial.

Trump suggested that Mamdani might “change his mind” about some policies. “I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people,” the president said.

Trump, who praised Mamdani’s performance during the mayoral primaries and general election, has always liked winners.

Bringing Mamdani to the White House was not considerably different than inviting a championship sports team — a presidential tradition that Trump relishes.

And as a fellow New Yorker, Trump may have a level of respect for someone who successfully navigated the city’s stormy politics. “Being the mayor of New York City is a big deal,” Trump said.

At times Trump acted as if he were meeting with a fellow head of state. He remarked about the media attention the two had drawn, saying it exceeded the scrutiny attracted by some leaders of other countries.

Trump grew up in Queens, where Mamdani resides now, making him the city’s first mayor from that borough. It is possible both men saw themselves as somewhat kindred spirits.

“I love New York City,” the president said.

US President Donald Trump hosted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday for a meeting that took place without apparent conflict despite their radically different worldviews.

Here are some takeaways from their closely watched encounter:

Changing the subject

What was the biggest victory for Trump? He changed the subject by changing his rhetoric on Mamdani, whom he previously blasted as a “100% Communist Lunatic.”

“We agree on a lot more than I would have thought,” the president said, his occasional scowl replaced with a wide smile as he praised Mamdani, referred to him as “Mr Mayor,” and predicted success for his tenure leading New York.

Trump’s warm welcome of Mamdani and their televised tete-a-tete in the Oval Office captivated political enthusiasts and moved the headlines into more positive territory for the president after weeks of politically damaging coverage of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was once a friend of Trump.

With Trump’s poll numbers sinking and some of his policies failing to gain traction, shifting the focus to a different topic is just what Trump needed — and may be a reason for him not to turn on Mamdani again anytime soon.

Affordability agenda

Trump and Mamdani said they focused their private discussion on the cost of living and affordability, issues at the heart of Mamdani’s mayoral victory. Trump talked at length about bringing down the price of groceries and housing.

“Some of his ideas are the same ideas I have,” said Trump, who opined that some of his supporters voted for Mamdani.

A former real estate developer, Trump brightened at Mamdani’s call for more housing in New York and Mamdani made a point of saying his campaign had reached out to Trump’s base.

“When we spoke to those voters who voted for President Trump, we heard them speak of the cost of living,” he said.

By emphasising pocketbook issues, the two men largely dodged topics of disagreement such as immigration policy and the war in Gaza. But their economic focus also represented smart politics for Trump as polls show affordability remains the number one concern for voters nationwide.

The White House has indicated that the cost of living will be a top priority for Trump’s next year, ahead of the midterm elections that will determine whether the president’s Republican party retains control of Congress.

Holding his own

Mamdani, a Democrat, appeared comfortable and confident standing in the Oval Office. He spoke respectfully of Trump while sticking to the themes of his political campaign.

While the president praised him, Mamdani did not really praise the president, and he did not shy away from critical subjects, such as his views about Trump’s immigration policies and how they impact New York.

Both answered questions, though Mamdani deferred to Trump to choose which journalists to acknowledge from the press pool, which included New York-focused and right-leaning reporters.

At one point, Trump weighed in to support Mamdani as the mayor-elect fielded a question about why he flew to Washington instead of taking a train.

“I’ll stick up for you,” Trump said, adding that a flight was the fastest way to get to DC from New York City.

Body language

Warmth, familiarity, even fraternity.

In what could have been a contentious meeting between political polar opposites, Trump and Mamdani exuded friendliness in their first get-together since the democratic socialist became New York City’s mayor-elect after beating establishment party figures in the Democratic primary, notably former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Unlike aggressive meetings Trump has had with some foreign leaders in the same space, the president appeared calm, supportive and even enthusiastic about Mamdani as the two men appeared before cameras.

They displayed amiable body language. Trump shook Mamdani’s hand more than once, patting it with his other in apparent affection, and touched or playfully punched his arm at other times, almost paternally, while they took questions together from the press.

Trump, appearing like an elder statesman, sat at his desk, while Mamdani, the younger upstart, stood next to him, his hands clasped. Trump wore a wide red power tie, Mamdani wore a narrower blue one, both colors corresponding to their respective political party affiliations.

Trump likes winners

Some expected fireworks between the volatile conservative president and the mayor-elect who reaffirmed his embrace of the “democratic socialist” label. Yet the aftermath of the meeting was surprisingly cordial.

Trump suggested that Mamdani might “change his mind” about some policies. “I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people,” the president said.

Trump, who praised Mamdani’s performance during the mayoral primaries and general election, has always liked winners.

Bringing Mamdani to the White House was not considerably different than inviting a championship sports team — a presidential tradition that Trump relishes.

And as a fellow New Yorker, Trump may have a level of respect for someone who successfully navigated the city’s stormy politics. “Being the mayor of New York City is a big deal,” Trump said.

At times Trump acted as if he were meeting with a fellow head of state. He remarked about the media attention the two had drawn, saying it exceeded the scrutiny attracted by some leaders of other countries.

Trump grew up in Queens, where Mamdani resides now, making him the city’s first mayor from that borough. It is possible both men saw themselves as somewhat kindred spirits.

“I love New York City,” the president said.

• Trump says US gives Kyiv one-week deadline to accept peace plan.
• Zelensky, Europeans working on counter-proposal, say sources.
• Putin says he has received US plan, says it needs discussion.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that Ukraine risked losing its dignity and freedom — or Washington’s backing — over a US peace plan that endorses key Russian demands, a proposal Donald Trump said Kyiv should accept within a week.

The US president told Fox News Radio he believed Thursday was an appropriate deadline for Kyiv to accept the plan, confirming what two sources told Reuters.

Trump later told reporters that time was short, given the approaching winter and the need to end the bloodshed and that Zelensky would have to approve the plan.

“He’ll have to like it, and if he doesn’t like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting, I guess,” he said.

“At some point, he’s going to have to accept something he hasn’t accepted,” Trump said.

Recalling his fractious February meeting with Zelensky, Trump added: “You remember right in the Oval Office, not so long ago, I said, ‘You don’t have the cards.'”

Washington’s 28-point plan calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits to its military and renounce ambitions to join NATO. It also contains some proposals Moscow may object to and requires its forces to pull back from some areas they have captured, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has previously refused to budge on Russia’s key territorial and security demands, said on Friday the US plan could be the basis of a final resolution of the nearly four-year-old conflict. He said Kyiv was against the plan but neither it nor its European allies understood the reality of Russian advances in Ukraine.

‘Dignity and freedom for Ukrainians’

Zelensky, who has rejected the plan’s terms in the past as capitulation, appealed to Ukrainians for unity and said he would never betray Ukraine.

“Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice — either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner,” he said in a speech to the nation, adding: “I will fight 24/7 to ensure that at least two points in the plan are not overlooked – the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.”

Two sources told Reuters that Washington had threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapons supplies to Ukraine if it did not accept the deal. They spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose the contents of private meetings.

A senior US official later said it was not accurate to say the US threatened to withhold intelligence.

In public, Zelensky has appeared careful not to reject the US plan or offend the Americans.

He spoke on Friday with the leaders of Britain, Germany and France, and later with US Vice President JD Vance. He said he had agreed with Vance to have their advisers work “to find a workable path to peace”.

“We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war,” Zelensky said. “We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.”

A poor deal for Ukraine could test the stability of its society after nearly four years of relentless warfare.

“Russia gets everything it wants and Ukraine gets not very much,” said Tim Ash of Britain’s Chatham House think tank. “If Zelensky accepts this, I anticipate huge political, social and economic instability in Ukraine.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on X that he held “a good and confidential phone call” with Trump about the peace plan on Friday evening. They “agreed on the next steps at the advisors’ level,” he said.

The plan is expected to dominate discussions on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg that European leaders are attending this weekend, despite a boycott by Trump.

‘A very dangerous moment’

Three sources told Reuters Ukraine was working on a counter-proposal to the 28-point plan with Britain, France and Germany. The Europeans have not been consulted on the US plan and have expressed strong support for Kyiv.

“We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded,” said the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. “This is a very dangerous moment for all.”

US officials have said their plan was drafted after consultations with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, a close Zelensky ally who served as defence minister until July.

Umerov “agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and presented it to President Zelensky,” a senior US official said on Thursday.

However, Umerov denied agreeing to any of the plan’s terms and said he had played only a technical role organising talks.

Russia’s demands spelt out, Kyiv’s left vague

The plan would require Ukraine to withdraw from territory it still controls in eastern provinces that Russia claims to have annexed, while Russia would give up smaller amounts of land it holds in other regions.

Ukraine would be permanently barred from joining the NATO military alliance, and its armed forces would be capped at 600,000 troops. NATO would agree never to station troops there.

Sanctions against Russia would be gradually lifted, Moscow would be invited back into the G8 group of industrialised countries, and frozen Russian assets would be pooled in an investment fund, with Washington given some of the profits.

One of Ukraine’s main demands, for enforceable guarantees equivalent to NATO’s mutual defence clause to deter Russia from attacking again, is dealt with in a single line with no details: “Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees”.