Friday will mark the primary time that New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump will meet nose to nose following a disagreement between the 2 leaders all through Mamdani’s marketing campaign and election.
And whereas Trump introduced the assembly with an insult in opposition to the progressive Democrat’s insurance policies, Mamdani has maintained that he’s trying ahead to the White Home assembly to debate his agenda, together with tackling a “nationwide disaster of affordability.”
Democratic candidate for New York Metropolis mayor, Zohran Mamdani talks with supporters whereas campaigning on the ultimate weekend earlier than the 2025 mayoral election in New York Metropolis, November 1, 2025.
Ryan Murphy/Reuters
“I am not involved about this assembly. I view this assembly as a possibility for me to make my case,” Mamdani informed reporters Thursday at a information convention.
Trump introduced the assembly on Wednesday night time on social media, repeating the “communist” label he is been utilizing in opposition to Mamdani, who’s a member of the Democratic Socialist group, and placing his center title, Kwame, in quotes.
In a radio interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade out Friday earlier than the assembly, Trump stated he believes the assembly will go properly and that he got here after Mamdani somewhat too laborious throughout the election cycle.
“He is bought a distinct philosophy. He is somewhat bit totally different. I give him loads of credit score for the run. They did a profitable run, and everyone knows that runs usually are not simple, however I believe we’ll get alongside superb,” Trump stated. “Look, we’re in search of the identical factor. We need to make New York sturdy, and you already know, there’s such a distinct philosophy”
Forward of the assembly, Robert Wolf, a former UBS govt who’s shut with former President Barack Obama, stated on X that he had a Zoom name with Mamdani Thursday “discussing current financial information and his upcoming assembly with President Trump.”
Mamdani has been a vocal critic of the administration over its insurance policies, together with elevated deportations, cuts to authorities companies and assaults on cities run by Democrats.
On election night time, the 34-year-old mayor-elect spoke on to Trump in his acceptance speech and informed him to “flip the quantity up,” as he vowed to guard immigrants.
“So hear me, President Trump, after I say this: To get to any of us, you’ll have to get via all of us,” he stated.
When requested in regards to the election night time feedback throughout his radio interview.
“I do not know precisely what he means by flip the quantity up, as a result of flip the quantity up. He must be cautious when he says that to me,” Trump stated.
Since Mamdani gained the June Democratic main, Trump has spoken out in opposition to the state assemblyman, at one level threatening to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, moved to New York as a baby, and have become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.
“We will be watching that very rigorously. And lots of people are saying, he is right here illegally,” Trump claimed with no proof in July.
President Donald Trump meets with the White Home Job Pressure on the FIFA World Cup 2026 within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, November 17, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
The president has additionally threatened to withhold federal funding to New York if Mamdani gained the election.
Mamdani’s critics have raised skepticism about his proposals, calling them far-fetched and unbelievable, as some would require state approval. He has additionally come underneath hearth for his previous feedback criticizing the NYPD and Israeli authorities actions within the Gaza battle.
The mayor-elect has apologized for his feedback in opposition to the division and vowed to struggle for Jewish New Yorkers, whereas nonetheless being crucial of the Israeli authorities’s polices throughout the battle.
Mamdani has additionally repeatedly brushed apart the threats and stated he’ll proceed to talk out in opposition to the administration’s conservative insurance policies.
“His threats are inevitable,” Mamdani told ABC News a day after the election. “This has nothing to do with security, it has to do with intimidation.”
On the similar time, Mamdani has stated he was open to speaking with Trump, particularly in the case of affordability points, noting that Trump gained his re-election promising to deliver down rising costs.
“I’ve many disagreements with the president. I intend to make it clear that I’ll work with him,” Mamdani stated Thursday.
The mayor-elect gained the election on a marketing campaign to assist New Yorkers with prices, with proposals equivalent to elevating the earnings tax on New Yorkers who earn over one million {dollars} a 12 months, offering free little one care to folks with children as early as six weeks previous, and free public buses.
Democratic candidate for New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani greets employees at an area retailer throughout a marketing campaign occasion within the Bronx borough of New York Metropolis, October 29, 2025.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Following Mamdani’s victory and different key wins by Democrats, Trump has stated in social media posts and information conferences that he and the Republicans are the celebration working to decrease prices.
“We’re preventing for an financial system the place everybody can win, from the cashier beginning first job to a franchisee opening his first location to the younger household in a drive via line,” he informed a crowd in Pennsylvania on Monday.
-ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky and Tonya Simpson contributed to this report
