Friday will mark the primary time that New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump will meet head to head following a confrontation 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 wanting 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 chance for me to make my case,” Mamdani informed reporters Thursday at a information convention.
Trump introduced the assembly on Wednesday evening 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 nicely and that he got here after Mamdani just a little too laborious in the course of the election cycle.
“He is acquired a special philosophy. He is just a little bit totally different. I give him plenty of credit score for the run. They did a profitable run, and everyone knows that runs will not be straightforward, however I believe we’ll get alongside positive,” Trump stated. “Look, we’re in search of the identical factor. We wish to make New York robust, and you recognize, there’s such a special 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 latest 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 businesses and assaults on cities run by Democrats.
On election evening, the 34-year-old mayor-elect spoke on to Trump in his acceptance speech and informed him to “flip the amount up,” as he vowed to guard immigrants.
“So hear me, President Trump, once I say this: To get to any of us, you’ll have to get by means of all of us,” he stated.
When requested concerning the election evening feedback throughout his radio interview.
“I do not know precisely what he means by flip the amount up, as a result of flip the amount 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’ll be watching that very fastidiously. 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 Activity 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 inconceivable, as some would require state approval. He has additionally come beneath fireplace 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 combat for Jewish New Yorkers, whereas nonetheless being vital of the Israeli authorities’s polices in the course of 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 identical time, Mamdani has stated he was open to speaking with Trump, particularly in relation to affordability points, noting that Trump gained his re-election promising to convey 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 akin to elevating the revenue tax on New Yorkers who earn over one million {dollars} a 12 months, offering free baby care to oldsters with youngsters as early as six weeks outdated, and free public buses.
Democratic candidate for New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani greets staff 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 by means of line,” he informed a crowd in Pennsylvania on Monday.
-ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky and Tonya Simpson contributed to this report
