The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the “horrors of socialism” just hours before New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani traveled to Washington for his first meeting with President Donald Trump. The measure, introduced weeks earlier, passed 285–98 with support from 86 Democrats, including several from New York and New Jersey such as Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, Greg Meeks, Grace Meng, Laura Gillen, and Tom Suozzi. Republicans framed the vote as a straightforward denunciation of socialist policies, while Democrats like Maxine Waters argued Congress should focus instead on addressing rising costs and economic pressures facing Americans.
During his Oval Office meeting with Trump, Mamdani brushed off the resolution, noting he had spent little time thinking about it and emphasizing his long-standing identification as a democratic socialist. He said that despite ideological differences, he and the president shared a commitment to addressing New York City’s affordability crisis. Trump echoed the unexpectedly warm tone, saying he felt “comfortable” about the city’s future after speaking with Mamdani, despite previously mocking him as “my little communist.”
Trump also signaled he would pause plans to deploy the National Guard to New York City, stating that other cities currently “need it more,” though he would act if necessary. The meeting marked a surprising shift in tone, with both leaders downplaying past insults—Mamdani having previously called Trump a “fascist”—and Trump later describing the encounter as a “great honor.”