President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have spent months exchanging sharp political barbs.
Yet amid the exchanges, accusations, and White House meetings, a surprising rapport has formed—one that makes onlookers question where they truly stand.
Trump once labeled Mamdani a “lunatic,” and the mayor answered by calling the president an authoritarian. Yet when the cameras roll, the taunts fade, praise appears, and the pair come off more like political allies than sworn adversaries.
Now, a Fox News interview has peeled back the curtain on how cordial things have become.
During a conversation with Fox News’ Shannon Bream, Mamdani faced a question about his ties to the president that revealed an unexpectedly casual level of familiarity.
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“Let’s talk about your relationship with President Trump. Do you reach out and text him? Do you wait for incoming text?” Bream asked.
“It varies,” Mamdani replied. “And I think that speaks to the fact that nobody’s very precious about who’s calling or who’s texting.”
He said the subject of the conversation matters, noting, “If it’s New York City, I’m there.”
For two politicians who have spent considerable time questioning each other’s judgment, they certainly don’t seem to have trouble keeping the conversation going.
Even more surprising, Trump offered another glowing assessment of Mamdani just days earlier.
Speaking to reporters after the midterm elections, the president warned about the dangers of democratic socialism before making an unexpected exception for the New York mayor.
“I deal with a very nice gentleman. I get along with him great, from New York,” Trump said.
But the praise only went so far.
Trump cautioned Americans that socialist policies could lead cities toward disaster, suggesting that even his newfound appreciation for Mamdani has limits.
The former reality star’s shift is remarkable considering their history.
In June 2025, Trump dismissed Mamdani as a “100% Communist Lunatic.” Mamdani fired back with accusations of authoritarianism and repeatedly criticized the president’s immigration crackdown.
Then came their November 2025 White House meeting, where Trump appeared almost delighted by the young mayor-elect. He complimented Mamdani’s appearance and suggested the progressive politician might surprise conservatives.
During that same Oval Office meeting, Trump interrupted Mamdani when a reporter asked whether the president was “power-hungry.”
He tried to dominate the situation with his signature handshake, and by cutting off the mayor to say, “That’s OK. You can just say yes.” Trump even patted his hand like dog, which social media users did not take lightly.
The unexpected rapport between Trump and Mamdani, coupled with the mayor’s coy response during his interview with Bream, has left social media users wondering just how close the two have become.
“That’s a refreshing take, focusing on the conversation rather than who starts it,” one X user replied. Another implied, “Trump seems to like him more than Vance and who could blame him,” one X user wrote. Another added, “lol Mamdani fans don’t like Trump.”
Others weren’t buying the political lovefest.
“That’s a pretty polite thing to say. What could this mean? Is Mamdani gonna help Trump build some monuments to himself in NYC in exchange for not sending in ICE or something? The world is just nonsense at this point,” one critic questioned.
Another fumed, “Your socialist NYC mayor is texting Trump like they’re old golf buddies. DemoCraps spent two years screaming fascist, then the new mayor keeps the group chat warm. Principles for sale.”
The Fox News exchange wasn’t Mamdani’s first awkward inquiry about the president.
In July, Rolling Stone’s Jack Crosbie caught him off guard with a question about Trump’s repeated compliments about his appearance.
“What do you think about Trump constantly saying how handsome you are?” Crosbie asked.
Mamdani appeared stunned before chuckling, “I, uh … thank you?”
The question wasn’t unreasonable. Trump had repeatedly called Mamdani handsome, even insisting he looked better in person than on TV.
In September, Trump visited Mamdani at Gracie Mansion, where the two discussed affordable housing, immigration and a proposed development in Queens.
Trump praised the mayor’s residence and told Mamdani, “Hopefully, you’re going to be a great one.” He later added that the mayor had “great potential.”
But the staged appearance became a distraction. Photos of the two reignited questions about Trump’s officially listed 6-foot-3 height.
Mamdani, commonly listed at about 5-foot-11, appeared closer to Trump’s height than expected. Camera angles can deceive, but that didn’t stop the speculation.
Still, the photo ops haven’t softened Mamdani’s jabs at the administration.
He recently mocked Vice President JD Vance for claiming credit for New York’s improvements, posting a viral video of a man pretending to hold back a subway train.
Trump, meanwhile, continues to attack democratic socialism. At a Republican midterm convention in Texas, he argued that democratic socialists are actually communists. Rep. Tom Emmer was even more blunt, referring to the mayor as “Mamdani the Commie.”
Apparently, Mamdani is good enough for Trump’s phone contacts but still fair game for Republican attacks.
Neither seems interested in ending the unusual arrangement. Trump praises the mayor while condemning his politics; Mamdani criticizes the administration while keeping a direct line to the president.
They may disagree on nearly everything, but neither seems willing to stop picking up the phone.
EXCLUSIVE: Who texts first, President Trump or NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani laughs as @ShannonBream presses him about how the two communicate, revealing that neither seems particularly concerned about who makes the first move.
“It varies,” Mamdani says, explaining that the focus is on the conversation itself, not who’s calling or texting.
“If it’s New York City, I’m there.”
Watch the full @FoxNewsSunday interview this Sunday at 2 P.M. ET on Fox News Channel.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 7, 2026
