Trump and new NYC mayor Mamdani set for high-stakes meeting
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet on Friday at the White House with New York City's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Bloomberg reports.
This will be the first meeting between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, who clashed sharply with the US president during the election campaign.
Throughout the campaign, Trump warned that if Mamdani became mayor, he would consider denying New York federal funds. After the election, his administration has already begun reviewing funding programs that benefit the city, including infrastructure projects.
Mamdani, who won on a platform of strict social reforms — a rent freeze, universal childcare, and expanded public services — has become one of the most progressive mayors in New York's history. His plans are financed by raising taxes on corporations and wealthy city residents.
These initiatives were labeled "communist" by Trump during the campaign, and Mamdani himself was described as a politician capable of undermining the financial capital of the world.
Role of federal funding for New York
Federal funds are critical to New York — in the 2025 fiscal year, the city received about $10 billion, accounting for more than 8% of its operating budget.
In addition, on October 1, the White House already suspended $18 billion in infrastructure funding, accusing the city of violating diversity and inclusion policies.
Therefore, Friday's meeting will have a direct impact on the future of large-scale transportation projects and the modernization of urban systems.
Mamdani has already stated that his team did indeed reach out to the White House regarding a meeting. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that he seeks an honest conversation about the cost of living and about what concerns city residents most.
He noted that many residents explained their support for Donald Trump by pointing to a widespread issue: the rising cost of living, which makes the city unaffordable for them. Mamdani's campaign, in turn, focused on mobilizing voters who felt let down by the sitting government and by Democratic Party policies.
US President Donald Trump, immediately after the election results were announced, stated that Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York mayoral election had led to a loss of sovereignty.
