Mamdani-Trump Meeting: What We Know on Mayor's Frida...

By Robert Birsel

Reporter

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President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

Why It Matters

The first highly anticipated talk between the two leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum could set the tone for their relationship after trading gibes for months. The stakes are particularly high for Mamdani, 34, and for America's most populous city, which he will lead starting New Year's Day.

What To Know

Mamdani, a Muslim and democratic socialist, did not pull any punches in his criticism of Trump during the campaign for the November 4 mayoral election in New York. The city is Trump’s hometown but the president is deeply unpopular in the Democratic stronghold.

Mamdani took a pointed shot at the president in his victory speech after winning the mayoral race, telling Trump to "Turn the volume up!"

But Mamdani has set a more sober, conciliatory tone since, stressing the importance for New Yorkers of his relationship with the White House and willingness to work with anyone to tackle problems facing the city, in particular a surging cost of living.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mamdani said it was “customary for an incoming mayor of this city to meet with the White House, given the mutual reliance.”

“It's more critical than ever, given the national crisis of affordability, one that New Yorkers know very well across these five boroughs, and the specific challenge many cities are facing with balancing public safety against steps taken by this administration,” he added.

“My team reached out to the White House to set up this meeting because I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than 8 1/2 million people who call this city home,” the mayor-elect said.

Acknowledging his “many disagreements” with Trump, Mamdani also said: “I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that could make our city affordable for every single New Yorker.”

Trump has over the months repeatedly called Mamdani a “communist,” predicted New York’s ruin if Mamdani becomes mayor, questioned his citizenship and threatened to arrest him and to cut off federal funding for the city.

Announcing the upcoming meeting on his social media page Wednesday, Trump seemed to be sticking with that confrontational tone. He again referred to Mamdani as a communist and used Mamdani’s middle name—Kwame—with quotation marks around it. In the past, Trump has used that tactic to mock adversaries.

There are many issues they could discuss, but Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding and the possible deployment of federal troops to the city as part of the president's campaign against illegal immigration are both likely to loom large.

What People Are Saying

Mamdani, on Thursday: “I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If any agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so.”

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, referring to Mamdani as a “communist,” at a Thursday briefing: “It speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and to try to do what’s right on behalf of the American people whether they live in blue states or red states or blue cities, in a city that’s becoming much more left than I think this president ever anticipated in his many years of living in New York.”