U.S. President Donald Trump announced a scheduled meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House this Friday, marking their first encounter since Mamdani, a democratic socialist, clinched victory in the recent mayoral election. The relationship between Mamdani and Trump has been characterized by mutual criticism, with Trump having supported Mamdani’s opponent, Andrew Cuomo, while Mamdani has voiced disapproval of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration enforcement and U.S. backing of Israel during the Gaza conflict.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump confirmed the planned meeting at the Oval Office on November 21st, following Mamdani’s team’s initiative to arrange the discussion. A spokesperson for Mamdani indicated that the mayor-elect intends to engage with Trump in Washington to address topics such as public safety, economic stability, and an agenda focused on affordability.
During the mayoral campaign, Trump had threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City should Mamdani emerge victorious, despite the city receiving $7.4 billion US from the federal government in the fiscal year 2026, constituting around 6.4% of the city’s total budget. Since Mamdani’s ascent, Trump has wrongly labeled him as a “communist,” a claim refuted by Mamdani, who emphasized countering Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration, as a key aspect of his successful campaign.
Mamdani, in his victory speech, expressed his desire for New York to serve as a model for defeating the president and pledged to “Trump-proof” the city upon assuming office in January. He also emphasized his willingness to collaborate with various stakeholders, including the president, for the betterment of New Yorkers. Mamdani is set to be inaugurated as mayor on January 1.
