U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday, marking their first face-to-face meeting following this month’s mayoral election.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, and Trump have been critical of each other. During the campaign, Trump endorsed Mamdani’s opponent, Andrew Cuomo, and even threatened to withhold billions of federal dollars from New York City if Mamdani won. The federal government is providing $7.4 billion to the city for fiscal year 2026, approximately 6.4% of the city’s total budget, according to the New York State Comptroller.
Mamdani has been outspoken against several policies of the Trump administration, including its immigration crackdown and U.S. support for Israel during the Gaza war. Trump, for his part, has labeled the mayor-elect a “communist,” a claim widely disputed.
The meeting, scheduled for Friday, November 21, in the Oval Office, will focus on public safety, economic security, and the affordability agenda in New York City, according to a spokesperson for Mamdani.
Mamdani’s rise to mayor was seen as a pushback against Trump-aligned policies, and countering the president’s influence on the city, particularly around immigration, was a key part of his successful campaign. He is set to be sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2026.
