CNN’s Jake Tapper delivered a monologue on Friday on the extraordinary “love fest” Oval Office meeting between President Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

JAKE TAPPER: Is Trump a fascist, Mr. Mamdani? Is Mamdani a jihadist, President Trump? The Lead starts right now. Some blunt questions from reporters and some notable praise and deflection as two men at polar opposites of the American political spectrum apparently try to get past all that in a rather odd kumbaya that ended just moments ago. Plus, breaking news in the criminal case against former FBI director James Comey. Comey must respond this hour to this week’s courtroom shocker, serious missteps by the Trump loyalist trying to prosecute the case. How is Comey going to respond? And walk outs, racist comments, claims of a rigged contest. Just some of the drama behind Miss Universe 2025 with the new winner at the center of much of it. Welcome to The Lead. I’m Jake Tapper. We’re going to start with the breaking news and our politics lead. And an extraordinary flabbergasting scene in the Oval Office today. While some may have expected tension or even fireworks in the first ever meeting between New York City’s first ever Muslim mayor and the first president to ever have called for a ban on all Muslims entering the country, instead we got handshakes, pats on the back, niceties. No, really, here’s how the meeting between President Trump and New York City Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani started. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He’s got views a little out there, but who knows? I mean, we’re going to see what works or he’s going to change also. We all change. I change a lot. I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually. ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR-ELECT: Appreciated the time with the President. I appreciated the conversation. I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: OK, a nice start. But then it got even nicer. Trump actually defended Mamdani from several pointed questions from journalists, starting when Mamdani was asked about the fact that he had once called Trump a despot. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not it’s not that insulting. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist? MAMDANI: I’ve spoken about — TRUMP: That’s OK. You can just say. MAMDANI: OK. OK. TRUMP: OK? MAMDANI: Yes. TRUMP: It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani administration? TRUMP: Yes, I would. I really would. Especially after the meeting. Absolutely. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What makes you comfortable? TRUMP: We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did you fly here? Aren’t trains greener? MAMDANI: I’ll use every form of transit, and I want to make sure that they’re all affordable in New York City. And that’s why making buses fast and free is a central piece of ours. TRUMP: Did you — UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where’s the bus that is fast? TRUMP: Well, but — I know. But if you flew, that’s a lot quicker, too. No, I mean, he’s working very hard for him to be — that’s a long — that’s a very — that’s a very long drive. I’ll stick up for you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Republican Elise Stefanik has campaigned multiple times by calling Zohran Mamdani a jihadist. Do you think you’re standing next to a jihadist right now in the Oval Office? TRUMP: No, I don’t. I met with a man who’s a very rational person. I think you really have a chance to make it great. MAMDANI: I appreciate that. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, you said you love — (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: All right, so that happened. But up until now, each politician had used the other as a lightning rod, a foil of an example of everything wrong with the other side. President Trump even falsely suggested that perhaps Mamdani was in the country illegally. Mamdani is a naturalized U.S. Citizen. He moved from Uganda to New York City at age seven. From at one point, threatened to pull federal funding for projects in New York City. Today, Trump said it’s all about doing whatever is best for his beloved city of New York. In fact, both leaders, of course, have talked about high prices or affordability as a key feature of their respective campaigns, and even though they do differ, of course, on how to make things more affordable, it does seem that is where some common ground was found today.

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