Mayor-elect Mamdani heading to DC to meet with President Trump
The Republican president and Democratic mayor-elect are meeting face-to-face for the first time.
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Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani is heading to the Oval Office to meet with President Donald Trump on Friday.
The Republican president and Democratic mayor-elect are meeting face-to-face for the first time.
“I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers,” said Mamdani during a news conference on Thursday. “If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say so.”
Mamdani said his team reached out to the White House to set up the meeting.
On Truth Social, Trump posted that he agreed to meet in the Oval Office with the “Communist mayor of New York City.”
Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, said he is not concerned about the meeting.
“I have many disagreements with the president; and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker,” said Mamdani.
The president has threatened to deploy the National Guard to New York City and pull federal funding.
“What I'll be looking for is what that White House, Oval Office meeting will look like in front of the camera versus what comes out of the face-to-face behind the closed door,” said Dr. Christopher Malone, News 12 political expert.
Malone said Trump and Mamdani could find common ground if they discuss issues that they focused on during their campaigns.
“If [the conversation] lies on the issue of public safety and the National Guard and things of that nature, the meeting could go sideways,” said Malone. “If it’s about the commonality about affordability, then it’s going to be a very confrontational meeting.”
