Trump and Mamdani Move Toward a Meeting After Months of Tension

By Y.M. Lowy

After a long and often heated campaign season, President Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani now appear ready to move past their clashes and focus on the city’s needs.

Much of Mamdani’s campaign centered on opposing Trump, often telling voters who were against the president to support his run for mayor. Trump, for his part, repeatedly attacked Mamdani throughout the race. He posted numerous remarks about him, even claiming he should be deported despite his legal status, threatened to pull federal support from the city, and endorsed Andrew Cuomo as the better choice.

When Mamdani won the election, he took a sharp swipe in his victory speech, saying “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”

Now, both sides are signaling a different tone.

Speaking to reporters Sunday night, President Trump said Mamdani “would like to come to Washington” and added that “we’ll work something out.” He made the comments before flying back to Washington after a weekend in Florida. The White House later said no date has been set yet for any meeting.

Mamdani says he is ready to meet if it helps New Yorkers. He said he is prepared to talk with the president about lowering the cost of living and bringing down grocery prices, issues Trump campaigned on in 2024. Mamdani added that he will work with anyone who can help the people of the city, and he will push back when policies come at their expense.

For now, both seem to be putting aside the campaign heat and focusing on what comes next for New York.