Trump and Zohran Mamdani: from threats to cordial meetings (2025–2026) Case Between mid-2025 and September 2026, Trump went from calling Zohran Mamdani a communist, suggesting he be arrested and threatening to withhold federal funds from New York City, to praising him as "rational" after a November 2025 White House meeting and meeting him again in New York in September 2026. The record below is Trump's own words, dated and sourced; why his tone changed is not documented. Before the election (2025) July 1, 2025: Asked about Mamdani's pledge to stop ICE deportations in New York, Trump said: "Well then, we'll have to arrest him." He also said, "We don't need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation," and noted "We send him money. We send him all the things that he needs to run a government." Nov. 3, 2025, on Truth Social, the day before the election: "If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required..." He also backed Andrew Cuomo, saying New Yorkers had "no choice." After the election: the turn (Nov. 2025) Nov. 21, 2025, White House meeting: Trump said, "I met with a man who is a very rational person," "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought," "I'll be cheering for him," and "The better he does, the happier I am." Asked in the same meeting whether he thinks Trump is a fascist, Mamdani began to answer and Trump interrupted: "That's OK. You can just say yes. I don't mind." Mamdani said "Yes." Trump added, "I've been called much worse than a despot." On immigration Trump kept his position at the meeting: "if we have known murderers, and known drug dealers, and some very bad people, we want to get them out." Mayor Mamdani and Trump (Sept. 2026) Sept. 21, 2026: ahead of the UN General Assembly, Trump and Mamdani met in New York, their third in-person meeting, and agreed to deepen talks on Mamdani's plan for 12,000 affordable homes over Sunnyside Yard in Queens. Trump said he wants Mamdani "to be a great mayor" and that he "certainly" has "great potential." Disagreements remained visible: Mamdani pressed for full White House press access while Trump defended barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico, and Mamdani raised concerns about keeping immigrant New Yorkers safe. Perspectives Editorial read — The Author (site author), thesis Author's thesis: Trump's reversal is best explained by fear of someone he cannot control. Mamdani cannot be pressured the way Trump's allies are, and he now runs one of the largest population centers in the world, so Trump flatters him rather than fights him. This is an interpretation. The sourced record above shows the shift in tone but does not state Trump's motive. Research notes Open leads: Trump's "communist lunatic" remarks (Yahoo/other coverage, not yet verified), what happened between the Nov. 2025 and Sept. 2026 meetings (second meeting, luxury property tax dispute, ICE/immigration disagreements), whether federal funding to NYC was actually withheld or restored, and Mamdani's own account. Note No source documents why Trump's tone changed; the author's reading is labeled as the author's thesis. Sources [1] Axios — Trump on arresting Mamdani over ICE pledge (https://www.axios.com/2025/07/01/trump-mamdani-arrest-ice-immigration) · 2025-07-01 [2] Fox News — Trump backs Cuomo, threatens NYC funding (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-threatens-cut-federal-funding-communist-mamdani-wins-nyc-mayor-race-against-cuomo.amp) · 2025-11-03 [3] Axios — quotes from the Nov. 21, 2025 White House meeting (https://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/trump-mamdani-nyc-mayor-meeting-quotes-white-house) · 2025-11-21 [4] Axios — Trump and Mamdani meet in New York, Sept. 21, 2026 (https://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/trump-mamdani-new-york-city-meeting) · 2026-09-21 Connections Same actor — ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Mamdani's response Both involve Mamdani's public positions as mayor-elect and mayor. Related — Trump's documented degrading and dehumanizing statements about people (hub) Contrast case: the same speaker softening toward a target he previously attacked. Same actor — Trump's documented statements degrading and objectifying women Author's thesis: Trump's harshest rhetoric is aimed at people he can pressure, and softens toward those he cannot; compare with this entry.