(West Palm Beach) President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to meet with Zohran Mamdani, New York’s mayor-elect, in what could mark a lull between the Republican president and the Democratic political figure, who have often been at odds.
Donald Trump has attacked Mr. Mamdani for months, falsely calling him a “communist” and predicting the ruin of his hometown, New York, if the democratic socialist was elected. He also threatened to deport Mr. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and is a naturalized American, and to withdraw federal subsidies to the city.
Zohran Mamdani, a little-known former local elected official, became a social media star and a symbol of resistance to the Republican president during his mayoral campaign. He campaigned on a progressive platform and a message of unequivocal opposition to the aggressive anti-immigration policies implemented by Mr. Trump during his second term.
This 34-year-old candidate appealed to a wide range of New York voters and beat one of the heavyweights of local politics, former governor Andrew Cuomo, by almost 9 points.
In his victory speech on election night, Mr. Mamdani said he wanted New York to show the country how to defeat the president. But the next day, discussing his plan to “protect New York from any influence of Mr. Trump” as soon as he takes office in January, the mayor-elect also said he was ready to collaborate with everyone, including the president, if it would serve the interests of New Yorkers.
Representatives for Mr. Mamdani did not immediately comment on the president’s remarks Sunday evening, but a spokesperson referred to the mayor-elect’s statements the previous week, when he indicated his intention to contact the White House, “as this relationship will be essential to the success of the city.”
Donald Trump expressed a similar sentiment on Sunday.
“The mayor of New York, I would like to point out, would like to meet with us. We will find a solution,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to return to Washington after spending the weekend in Florida.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified shortly after that Donald Trump was referring to Mr. Mamdani and that no date had been set for such a meeting.
“We hope that everything goes well for New York,” added the tenant of the White House.
