Trump has a surprising new 'phone pal'

14 January

U.S. President Donald Trump wearing a "happy Trump" pin speaks during a meeting with oil industry executives at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

During New York City's 2025 mayoral race, President Donald Trump was vehemently critical of the Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani — who he attacked as a "communist." But Mamdani's supporters countered that he was a "democratic socialist" along the lines of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), not a communist — and that actual Leninists, Trotskyites and Maoists did not consider him one of their own.

Regardless of Trump's attacks, Mamdani enjoyed a double-digit victory over his opponents — who included former New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (a fellow Democrat) and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (the GOP nominee) — and is now NYC mayor.

Trump and Mamdani were scathing critics of one another during the race, but now, according to Axios, they are staying in contact with one another — political differences and all.

In an article published by Axios on January 14, reporters Holly Otterbein and Alex Isenstadt explain, "President Trump has a surprising phone pal: He and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have texted back and forth recently, two sources familiar with their conversations tell Axios. Why it matters: The back-channeling between the democratic socialist mayor and Trump — who once derided Mamdani as a 'communist' — indicates their private communications have been more extensive than previously thought."

Otterbein and Isenstadt add, "It also suggests that the good vibes they presented during Mamdani's post-election visit to the Oval Office in November have developed into an ongoing relationship. The texting started soon after Trump and Mamdani exchanged numbers during their November meeting, the sources told Axios."

After months of exchanging insults, the Axios reporters note, Trump and Mamdani "seemed to get along swimmingly in front of the cameras, once they met in person."

"It's unclear what subjects Trump and Mamdani have texted about, or exactly how often they've been lighting up each other's phones," according to Otterbein and Isenstadt. "Mamdani has plenty of reasons to keep up a good working relationship with the president, including preventing him from withholding money from the city, as he has threatened, or sending in National Guard troops. Trump, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy sharing the newly elected mayor's star power and his focus on affordability, a weak spot for Trump in polls."

Read the full Axios article at this link.

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