WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday, despite having repeatedly criticised him during the election campaign.
The meeting comes after Trump frequently targeted Mamdani on the campaign trail, calling him a “communist” and questioning his political views.
Dora Pekac, spokesperson for Mamdani, confirmed the meeting and said the Mayor-elect would meet the president in line with traditional protocol. She added that Mamdani plans to present his agenda on public safety, economic stability and affordable services — priorities for which more than one million New Yorkers voted for him.
Both Trump and Mamdani grew up in Queens, New York, but their political and economic ideologies are sharply opposed. While Trump often highlights Wall Street gains during his administration, Mamdani identifies himself as a Democratic Socialist.
Mamdani has long advocated for public welfare initiatives such as affordable housing, childcare support, free bus services and government-run grocery stores in New York.
During the campaign, Trump repeatedly mocked Mamdani’s South Asian name and even threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if he won. At one rally, Trump intentionally mispronounced his name, saying “Mamdami or whatever his name is” in a derisive tone.
Mamdani responded after his election victory, addressing Trump directly in his first speech and saying, “I know you’re watching, so turn the volume up.”
Trump’s spokesperson later confirmed that the president had, in fact, watched Mamdani’s speech live.
Blow to Trump as Zohran Mamdani becomes first Muslim mayor of New York City
