Incoming New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the White House on Friday for his first in-person meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Before the meeting, Trump said he expected the two political rivals to “get along fine,” despite months of tension over immigration and economic policy.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and previously a little-known state lawmaker, requested the meeting to discuss rising living costs and public safety in New York City. He won the mayoral race earlier this month.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal funding from New York, the nation’s largest city. Mamdani has criticized several of Trump’s policies, especially those tied to expanding federal immigration enforcement. Four in ten New Yorkers are foreign-born, making immigration a central issue in their public disagreements.
The president, a former New York resident, has labeled the 34-year-old mayor-elect a “radical left lunatic,” a communist, and a “Jew hater,” without presenting evidence. Mamdani supports Nordic-style democratic socialism, not communism. Although he is a vocal critic of Israel, he received endorsements from several Jewish politicians and is hiring Jewish staff, including incoming Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. He has publicly condemned antisemitism on multiple occasions.
Shortly before Mamdani’s arrival, Trump softened his tone. He said he expected a “quite civil” meeting and praised Mamdani for his “successful run.” In a Fox News interview, Trump acknowledged he had “hit him a little hard” but added that both leaders wanted to “make New York strong.”
Earlier in the day, Mamdani shared a smiling selfie on social media from his flight to Washington.
Trump’s Oval Office meetings have often been unpredictable. Past encounters have ranged from respectful discussions with critics to more confrontational moments, such as those involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking at a press conference before traveling to Washington, Mamdani said he had “many disagreements with the president.” Still, he pledged to work with Trump on any initiative that benefits New Yorkers and to oppose policies that cause harm.
Mamdani, born in Uganda, will be the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City, home to Wall Street and 8.5 million residents. His social-media-driven campaign sparked debate among Democrats about their future direction. Although divided ideologically and out of power in Washington, Democrats remain united in their opposition to Trump, who is barred from running again in 2028.
The mayor-elect has promised to prioritize affordability. He plans to focus on housing costs, groceries, childcare, and transportation. New Yorkers pay nearly twice the national average rent. Inflation remains a major concern for Americans, and only 26% approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
New York City is set to receive $7.4 billion in federal funds in fiscal year 2026, about 6.4% of its total budget, according to the New York State Comptroller. It is unclear what authority Trump would have to withhold money already approved by Congress.
After the election, the two leaders exchanged sharp remarks. In his victory speech, Mamdani said New Yorkers could “show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him,” adding that Trump should “turn the volume up.” Trump, when asked about those comments on Fox News, replied that Mamdani “has to be careful” when using such language. But he also noted that Mamdani “was very nice in calling” and confirmed that their meeting would take place.
