- Trump met Mamdani in the Oval Office Friday.
- Discussion focused on housing and affordability issues.
- Trump praised Mamdani despite past harsh criticisms.
The mayor and president had a "love and admiration for New York City," despite their well-known disagreement, according to Mamdani. They kept coming back to the same subject: the price of living in New York City.
Being the mayor of NYC is a “big deal,” Trump acknowledged, adding that he was “confident that [Mamdani] can do a good job. I think he’s going to surprise some conservatives, actually.” In true Trump fashion, he expressed optimism in the city’s real estate potential, referring to Mamdani’s plan to build more housing.
Both Mamdani and Trump returned to their emphasis on the cost of living dilemma when questioned about their "controversial" comments regarding one another and more general policy issues.
The mayor clarified several of his remarks and policies. When asked if he would raise taxes in areas with a majority of white residents, Mamdani responded, "Absolutely not." Additionally, he remained open about his democratic socialist beliefs.
From the start, Mamdani's support for Palestine has been evident. In the meantime, President Trump dismissed inquiries about Israel and Palestine in the Middle East.
Mamdani insisted that he thought the Israeli government was perpetrating genocide in Gaza, while Trump hazily referred to his efforts toward "peace in the Middle East."
Mamdani stated that he
"appreciated that the meeting was not so much on disagreements"
but rather on helping NYC residents.
In the end, he placed the blame on the "broken system of politics" in NYC that he and the president had entered into, stressing that "no crime" and a cheaper cost of living for the city were the agreed-upon objectives.
How might this meeting affect federal support for New York City?
President Trump's meeting with incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani may lead to a temperance in his previous pitfalls to withhold civil backing from New York City. Before the election, Trump suggested he'd significantly cut civil benefactions if Mamdani won.
New York City relies heavily on civil backing about$ 7.5 billion or 6.4 of its $115.9 billion financial time 2026 budget primarily for social services, education, and housing. Any withholding of finances would face legal challenges, as unilateral civil cuts without Congressional blessing are unconstitutional.
The meeting therefore raises the possibility that civil support will continue, albeit with some pressure ahead, as the city’s fiscal health depends on this aid and Trump's former station posed pitfalls to critical public services in education, healthcare, and casing.