New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, met with US President Trump at the White House last Friday, November 21. Following the meeting, Mamdani told New York media on Sunday that although his views on Trump as a “tyrant” and “dictator” remain unchanged, he discovered that they both share a common goal when it comes to New York’s most pressing issue – lowering the cost of living for New Yorkers.
Mamdani reiterated on Sunday that he still views President Trump as a “fascist” and “dictator”, stating, “I have said this in the past, and I stand by it today.” Mamdani expressed this on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program.
After months of attacking each other during the mayoral campaign, both men surprisingly displayed a friendly demeanor during the meeting. Trump told reporters that he will be “rooting” for Mamdani, while the mayor-elect described the meeting as “productive.”
When asked after the meeting if he still stands by his decision to refer to Trump as a “fascist” during the campaign, Mamdani responded, “No problem, just say it,” jokingly adding, “It’s easier this way, much easier than explaining.”
Trump also added, “I think once we start working together, he will change his mind.”
During a television interview on Sunday, Mamdani stated, “My visit to the Oval Office was not about stating a position or viewpoint, but about delivering tangible benefits to the residents of New York City. I have thought deeply about what it means for New Yorkers if we can establish a productive relationship, focusing on the issues that keep them up at night rather than attacking each other.”
Mamdani revealed that during the meeting, he told Trump about encountering many of his supporters during the mayoral campaign who explained that they voted for Trump due to the high cost of living.
“They repeatedly told me, it’s about the cost of living, the cost of living, the cost of living,” he said. “One aspect of the conversation with the President that I appreciated was that we openly discussed our differences and focused on how to address the housing crisis for the people of New York based on a shared analysis.”
Mamdani further mentioned that he discussed with Trump what obstacles are hindering the goal of reducing the cost of living.
Additionally, they talked about the issue of deploying the National Guard to New York City.
“I told him that what sets New York City apart from anywhere else is that we have the New York City Police Department (NYPD). I believe the NYPD is capable of ensuring public safety,” he said. “In my view, I know they can do it, they have done it in the past, and under my leadership, they will continue to do so.”