Washington [US], November 20 (ANI): US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran “Kwame” Mamdani, will meet him at the Oval Office on Friday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran ‘Kwame’ Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow!”
The announcement comes after months of pointed public exchanges between the two political figures. According to The New York Times, Mamdani’s team recently contacted the White House seeking a meeting to discuss New York’s affordability crisis, signalling a shift in tone following a combative campaign season.
During his campaign, Mamdani criticised Trump as a threat to democracy and asserted that he alone had the “backbone” to challenge him. Trump, in response, repeatedly labeled him a “100 per cent communist lunatic” and endorsed his opponent, Andrew M. Cuomo.
Despite their differences, Mamdani has said he is prepared to meet the president to address urgent affordability concerns facing New Yorkers. He has argued that rising costs — including rent and groceries — are pushing residents out of the city. Speaking at a Bronx food pantry, he said that while Trump’s promises to lower prices resonated with voters, “we are seeing his actions and that of his administration in Washington leading to the exact opposite effect for New Yorkers.”
Asked what he intended to convey to Trump during their meeting, Mamdani said, “I’m here to work for the benefit of everyone that calls this city home, and wherever there is a possibility for working together towards that end, I’m ready. And if it’s to the expense of those New Yorkers, I will fight it.”
In an earlier interview, Mamdani said maintaining a functional relationship with the White House would be “critical to the success of the city” and stressed that he intends to be “proactive” as he prepares to take office on January 1.
According to The New York Times, the upcoming meeting comes at a tense moment. City officials are bracing for possible conflicts with the federal government after Trump threatened to deploy National Guard troops and explored using a Staten Island Coast Guard site to detain immigrants. Trump has also withheld billions in federal funding and suggested further cuts may follow.
As the Oval Office meeting approaches, Mamdani has maintained that while he is open to cooperation, he will oppose any policies he believes could harm New Yorkers.
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