New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said that he would make “affordability” the centerpiece of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday.
Speaking to reporters at City Hall Park, Mamdani said that he requested the meeting because he will “work with anyone” to lower costs for New Yorkers.
“I have many disagreements with the president, and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker,” Mamdani said. “I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say something.”
Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the meeting would be held in the Oval Office on Friday.
The president has frequently called the self-described socialist mayor-elect a “communist” and wrote just before Election Day that if Mamdani won, he would try to withhold federal funds from the city.
He has also alluded to Mamdani’s anti-Israel views and negative reception by many Jewish New Yorkers.
“Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self-professed Jew hater, is a stupid person,” Trump wrote on Election Day.
Mamdani has repeatedly denied being antisemitic, but criticized Israel as a focal point of his campaign, including threats to jail Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
Despite his background as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani told reporters on Thursday that he would not back the candidacy of fellow-DSA member and New York City councilman Chi Ossé, who is challenging House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 8th District.
“Last night, I spoke to DSA members, sharing the same message that I’ve shared in public as well, which is that I do not believe this is the right time for a primary,” Mamdani said.
The mayor-elect said that he would not rule out backing other left-wing primary challenges against incumbent Democrats.
“This was not a sweeping statement; this was specific,” Mamdani said.
