New Delhi, Nov. 22 -- After months of trading barbs, US President Donald Trump met with New York Mayor elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday, and, instead of taking potshots at each other, the duo swapped compliments, much to the surprise of US lawmakers and the public at large.

Despite having clashed over everything from immigration to economic policy in the run-up to the New York mayoral polls, Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, and Trump, a billionaire-turned-politician, seemed to strike up a rapport at the White House.

In widely circulated videos, Mamdani was seen standing beside Trump in the Oval Office, with the duo answering questions from the media. At times, the US President even seemed protective of the New York Mayor e...