In a surprising political development, President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have maintained a private line of communication through text messages following a cordial meeting last fall. This ongoing dialogue, first reported by Axios, represents a significant shift from the public barbs the two figures traded during the mayoral election campaign.
From Public Foes to Private Contacts
The foundation for this unlikely channel was laid during a friendly meeting in the Oval Office in November. According to two sources familiar with the encounter, President Trump and then-Mayor-elect Mamdani exchanged personal phone numbers during their sit-down. Since that time, the pair have engaged in a text message conversation, though the precise frequency and detailed content of their exchanges remain private.
This back-and-forth marks a stark contrast to their pre-meeting rhetoric. During the campaign, Trump publicly derided Mamdani as a "communist," while the progressive mayor fired back by likening the president to a fascist. The November meeting, symbolized by a handshake photo in the Oval Office, appeared to reset their dynamic on a personal level.
A Strained Relationship Over Venezuela
However, this fledgling political relationship may have encountered its first major strain in recent days. The point of contention arose from Mayor Mamdani's public criticism of a U.S.-led military operation aimed at seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
When questioned by The New York Times about whether his relationship with the mayor remained positive, President Trump indicated the Venezuela comments had caused a rift. "Well, I did, but he hit me sooner than I thought," Trump stated. "I thought it would take him at least a month. I mean, he hit me on Venezuela." In response, Mayor Mamdani defended his stance, asserting he was simply being honest about his policy disagreement.
Uncertain Future for an Unusual Alliance
The situation underscores the complex and often unpredictable nature of political relationships. What began as a highly public feud transitioned into private dialogue, only to be potentially undermined by a fundamental policy disagreement on a major foreign affairs issue.
Key questions remain unanswered. The nature of their earlier texts is unknown, and it is unclear if the communication has continued following the Venezuela dispute. This episode highlights how personal rapport between political figures can exist alongside deep ideological divides, though such connections are often fragile when tested by substantive policy clashes.
