Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, left
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for their meeting at the White House, saying it sets an example of how a democracy should function.In a post on X on Saturday, Tharoor wrote, “This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it’s over, & the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve.”He added, “I would love to see more of this in India — and am trying to do my part.” Tharoor’s remarks come amid criticism from his party for praising PM Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. Congress had earlier said it has “outrightly” distanced itself from Tharoor due to his praise of opposition figures.The Trump-Mamdani meeting took place in the Oval Office on Friday. The two leaders focused on pressing issues such as housing, groceries, rising utility costs, and overall affordability in New York, steering clear of ideological differences and personal attacks.The interaction was particularly notable given their past tensions. Trump had previously called Mamdani a “100% Communist lunatic” and a “nut job,” while Mamdani had described himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.” Trump acknowledged he had earlier warned he might pull federal funds if the city did not “get along,” but said he no longer expected that to happen.Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first South Asian and first Muslim mayor, won a historic victory, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent with a last-minute endorsement from Trump.
