US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will meet New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, at the White House this Friday. The meeting will mark the first encounter between the Republican president and the progressive Democrat who won this month’s mayoral election.
In a post on social media, Trump said the meeting would take place at the Oval Office on November 21. Mamdani’s team had previously confirmed reaching out to the White House to arrange the discussion. A spokesperson for the mayor-elect said he plans to meet Trump in Washington “to discuss public safety, economic security, and the affordability agenda.”
Political Rivals Set to Meet
The upcoming meeting is notable given the two leaders’ stark political differences. Trump had openly supported Mamdani’s opponent, former governor Andrew Cuomo, during the mayoral race and threatened to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won.
The US federal government contributes roughly $7.4 billion to New York City’s annual budget, accounting for about 6.4% of total spending, according to the New York State Comptroller.
During the campaign, Trump labelled Mamdani a “communist,” a characterisation widely dismissed by fact-checkers. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and vocal critic of Trump’s immigration policies and his administration’s support for Israel during the Gaza conflict, made opposing the president’s agenda a key part of his platform.
Focus on Cooperation Despite Divisions
While deep ideological divisions remain, Mamdani has signalled a willingness to work with the federal government on shared priorities. His team said Friday’s meeting will focus on practical issues affecting New Yorkers, including housing affordability and job security.
Observers see the meeting as a test of whether the two can find common ground despite their sharp political contrasts. Mamdani is set to take office on January 1, ushering in a new era of leadership for America’s largest city.
(with inputs from Reuters)
