Takeaways from Trump and Mamdani's surprisingly cordial meeting

It was billed as potentially the political showdown of the year - instead, both men gave one another praise.

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In his election victory speech, the self-described Democratic socialist mayor called Trump a "despot".

And before Friday's meeting, the president's spokeswoman had billed Mamdani's visit as a "communist coming to the White House".

But standing side-by-side in the Oval Office, the two men struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone.

Over and over, both men emphasised their shared interest in addressing New York City's affordability crisis. They smiled often, and Trump even appeared amused as reporters asked him about the political attacks Mamdani had fired his way.