US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet New York’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, on Friday—just weeks after repeatedly criticising the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist throughout his campaign.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump again falsely labelled Mamdani a “communist” and said the meeting “will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.”
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, confirmed the scheduled meeting, noting:
“As is customary for an incoming mayoral administration, the Mayor-elect plans to meet with the President in Washington to discuss public safety, economic security, and the affordability agenda that over one million New Yorkers voted for just two weeks ago.”
The meeting brings together two men who grew up in Queens but hold sharply contrasting political views.
While Trump often highlights the record-breaking stock market performance during his presidency, Mamdani focuses on the city’s affordability crisis, affecting over 8 million residents. He made history as the first mayoral candidate since 1969 to surpass one million votes, running on a platform centred on affordable housing, childcare, free city bus rides, and city-run grocery stores.
Despite widespread enthusiasm for Mamdani’s agenda, experts have raised doubts about how he will deliver such ambitious proposals.
Trump, known for his harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric, has mocked Mamdani’s South Asian name and threatened to cut federal funding for New York following the Muslim politician’s election.
“Mandami, whatever the hell his name is,” Trump remarked recently, deliberately mispronouncing the Uganda-born mayor-elect’s surname.
Mamdani, however, has pushed back strongly. During his victory rally, he addressed Trump directly:
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you—turn the volume up!”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that the president had indeed watched Mamdani’s remarks.
