Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday applauded the calm exchange between US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. He said their behaviour showed how a healthy democracy should work. Political rivals must fight hard during elections. But once people give their verdict, they must cooperate.

Tharoor Explains His Views

Sharing his thoughts on X, 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, and 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 that he would “love to see more of this in India". He also said he was “trying to do his part" to promote political civility.

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. I… https://t.co/NwXPZyhn20

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 22, 2025

Comments Come at a Sensitive Time

However, Tharoor’s post comes at a moment when the Congress party is using a sharp and combative tone against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Only a few days earlier, Tharoor surprised many in his party at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture. He said PM Modi’s recent speech worked as an economic outlook as well as a “cultural call to action".

His remarks drew criticism from senior Congress leaders, including Sandeep Dikshit and Supriya Shrinate. They felt his praise did not match the party’s firm opposition to the government. Because of this tension, his latest comment may not be welcomed by everyone within the Congress.

A Bitter Feud Turns Into Cooperation

The contrast stands out even more because the Trump–Mamdani meeting followed weeks of harsh exchanges on X. Both leaders used strong and offensive language. Yet Mamdani later requested a meeting. As a result, the two leaders met at the Oval Office and turned an ugly feud into a moment of cooperation.

Tharoor highlighted this shift. He said India could learn from political rivals who set aside anger once voters make their choice.

Trump Reveals the Meeting

Trump first announced the meeting on Truth Social, saying Mamdani would visit the Oval Office on November 21. Earlier, Trump had called Mamdani a “lunatic", “communist", and “despot". Despite this, their interaction inside the Oval Office was unexpectedly warm.

Trump praised Mamdani’s victory. He said Mamdani defeated “a lot of smart people" and did it “easily". Trump added that they discussed shared concerns such as housing, food prices, and falling oil costs.

Mamdani Responds Positively

Mamdani also called the meeting “productive". He said they spoke about their shared admiration for New York City and the need to make it more affordable.

A journalist asked Mamdani about his earlier “fascist" remark against Trump. Before he could respond, Trump joked, “That’s OK, you can just say yes, OK? It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining it I don’t mind." This light moment caused laughter in the Oval Office and softened the tense history between the two.