In an interview with NBC last week, Mamdani stated that he intended to get in touch with the White House as he gets ready to take office "because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city." However, Mamdani's representatives did not comment on Trump's remarks on Monday morning.
“I will be proactive in the work that I do”
Mamdani said.
“And I think that is because of the responsibility that I hold to eight and a half million people of being their mayor, it is important that you are open to working with anyone, no matter what disagreements you may have.”
Asked what he would tell Trump, Mamdani said he would say:
“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.”
Trump called Mamdani a "communist lunatic," threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if he won, and even hinted at the possibility of stripping Mamdani who was born in Uganda during his campaign. This is why there may be a meeting between Trump and Mamdani.
Additionally, Trump supported Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York who ran an independent mayoral candidacy after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.
Mamdani vehemently denounced Trump and his policies, notably his administration's immigration crackdown, during the campaign. However, Mamdani has stated time and time again that he would cooperate with the president if it meant "delivering on lowering the cost of living for New Yorkers."
In his victory speech, Mamdani said that “if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him”, adding that
“if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
“This is not only how we stop Trump; it’s how we stop the next one” he added. “So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Later in the speech, he said:
“So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
On January 1st, Mamdani will take the oath of office as the 111th mayor of New York City.
How could a Trump Mamdani meeting affect federal funding for NYC?
A meeting between Donald Trump and New York City mayor- elect Zohran Mamdani could have significant counteraccusations for civil backing to NYC. Trump has preliminarily hovered to withhold civil finances from New York City if Mamdani, whom he labeled a" socialist," were to apply programs he opposes.
Still, it could ease these pressures and potentially secure continued civil backing or find negotiations on civil support for social programs like SNAP and casing, If the meeting leads to a working relationship or collective understanding.
This dynamic is shaped both by the political differences between Trump and Mamdani and by indigenous limits. Congress controls civil spending, so the chairman's capability to unilaterally cut back is limited but political pressure to impact Congress could increase. Overall, the meeting signals an implicit thaw or realistic engagement but does n't guarantee resolution of backing controversies.