US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani this Friday, despite having sharply criticized the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist throughout the mayoral campaign.
Trump repeated his unfounded claim that Mamdani is a “communist,” writing on his Truth Social account that the meeting “will take place at the Oval Office on Friday.”
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, confirmed the meeting in a brief statement, saying the mayor-elect intends to discuss “public safety, economic security, and the affordability agenda that over one million New Yorkers voted for just two weeks ago.”
The upcoming meeting brings together two political figures who share roots in Queens but see the world through completely different lenses.
While Trump often boasts about soaring stock market numbers as proof of economic success, Mamdani has focused his attention on the deepening affordability crisis impacting more than eight million New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s historic victory made him the first candidate since 1969 to receive over a million votes in a New York mayoral election. His campaign centered on bold proposals, including affordable housing, expanded childcare access, free bus rides, and city-run grocery stores.
However, analysts remain skeptical about whether Mamdani can realistically deliver on such a sweeping and ambitious agenda.
Trump, known for his tough stance on immigration, has mocked Mamdani’s South Asian name and even threatened to cut federal funding to New York following the Muslim politician’s election.
“Mandami, whatever the hell his name is,” Trump said recently, purposefully mispronouncing the Uganda-born mayor-elect’s surname.
Mamdani has not hesitated to push back. At his victory rally earlier this month, he directly addressed the president:
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you — turn the volume up!” he declared to loud cheers.
The White House later confirmed through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that Trump had, in fact, watched Mamdani’s remarks.
