Trump, Mamdani set to face-off in first Oval Office meeting — what’s on the table
New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House, a move that underscores his commitment to work collaboratively for the benefit of his constituents. During his election night victory speech, Mamdani promised to engage with anyone, regardless of political affiliation, if it meant improving the lives of New Yorkers. This meeting comes despite Trump’s previous criticisms of Mamdani, who has been labeled a “communist” by the president. However, both leaders appear to share a common interest in addressing affordability issues facing the city, which has seen a significant rise in poverty rates. According to a report from Columbia University and the anti-poverty group Robin Hood, approximately 25% of New York City’s residents—over two million people—are currently living in poverty. Mamdani plans to use this meeting to advocate for policies that could alleviate the financial burdens on New Yorkers, such as rent freezes and city-operated grocery stores to lower food prices.
Mamdani has made it clear that he intends to address not only affordability but also public safety and economic security during his discussions with Trump. The mayor-elect emphasized the importance of making a strong case to the president about the ongoing affordability crisis affecting millions in the city. In a press conference, he stated, “I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than 8.5 million people who call the city home.” While the White House has not disclosed specific topics for discussion, Trump has expressed his willingness to collaborate for the betterment of New York, indicating that despite their differences, both leaders aim to achieve a strong and prosperous city. Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis noted that while Trump may seek to ensure that federal support does not back a socialist agenda, there may be opportunities for common ground, particularly in the realm of affordability and public safety.
As Mamdani prepares for this pivotal meeting, the backdrop of rising affordability concerns in New York City becomes increasingly significant. Voter polls indicate that affordability was a top priority for New Yorkers during the recent elections, reflecting a broader trend across the nation where economic issues are at the forefront. With both Mamdani and Trump acknowledging the need to address these challenges, the outcome of their meeting could potentially lead to collaborative efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for millions of residents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HnvQLKVrM
New York City mayor-elect
Zohran Mamdani
is gearing up to meet President
Donald Trump
at the White House Friday — fulfilling a promise he made to voters during his election night victory speech that he would work with anyone if it would benefit his constituents.
While the president has been highly critical of Mamdani, he said Sunday he wants to see “everything work out well for New York” as both leaders zero in on a key issue for Americans: affordability.
Mamdani, who ran on policies including rent freezes and city-run grocery stores to cut food prices, has vowed to use his face-to-face meeting with Trump to make a “case for New Yorkers” who are struggling to pay $2.90 in bus fees.
As a result, Mamdani said that he had initiated the meeting with Trump “because I will work with anyone to
make life more affordable
for the more than 8.5 million people who call the city home.”
ZOHRAN MAMDANI REVEALS WHAT HE PLANS TO DISCUSS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP IN OVAL OFFICE MEETING
“I have many disagreements with the president, and I believe that we should be relentless and pursue all avenues and all meetings that could make our city affordable for every single New Yorker,” Mamdani said at a press conference Thursday. “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.”
Specifically, Mamdani pointed to poverty rates across the city. In February, Columbia University and anti-poverty group Robin Hood released a report that found that 25% of New York City residents — more than two million people — are living in poverty.
“I have to make the case to President Trump to the White House, as to what it means to have to suffer through this affordability crisis, and what it means to make it even more difficult to do so,” Mamdani said.
TRUMP SAYS MAMDANI MEETING IN THE WORKS: ‘WE’LL WORK SOMETHING OUT’
Additionally, Mamdani said that he plans to address public safety and economic security with Trump as well.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on what the president would like to discuss with the mayor-elect.
However, Trump told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade that the two each want to “make New York strong,” and confessed that he was a bit tough on Mamdani during the election. He also predicted the meeting would be “quite civil.”
Likewise, White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt
said that it signaled Trump’s interest to “do what’s right” for the American public — regardless of political parties.
“It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House, because that’s who the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country,” Leavitt told reporters Thursday. “I think it’s very telling. But I also think it speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone, and talk to anyone, and to try to do what’s right on behalf of the American people, whether they live in blue states or red states.”
Although Trump has routinely characterized Mamdani as a “communist,” Mamdani has denied that is the case, and instead, said he is a democratic socialist.
Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital Thursday that despite Trump and Mamdani’s differences, the two are New Yorkers and that increases the odds of a better outcome following the face-to-face talk.
”
I think that (Trump is) probably going to want to make it clear that in no way will the federal government support the implementation of a socialist or communist agenda in New York City,” said Malliotakis, whose district includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, New York. “But there’s ways that we can work together as long as Mamdani plays ball when it comes to important issues like public safety, the deportation of violent criminals, transportation, infrastructure, public housing, hospitals — these are the things I’m going to be looking out for.”
Additionally, Malliotakis said that the two may have some common ground when it comes to affordability, and pointed to Trump’s efforts instructing drug companies to lower prescription drug prices, or face consequences from the federal government.
”
I think what President Trump is doing to lower prescription drug (costs) should be something that the mayor elect could embrace … they both have a vested interest in affordability,” Malliotakis said. “However, Mamdani’s policies simply don’t work.”
MAMDANI SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO TRUMP, STOPS SHORT OF GIVING HIM CREDIT IN MIDEAST PEACE DEAL
Affordability and the economy were top priorities for voters in the
2025 election
, which included Mamdani’s race, as well as key gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, which Democrats ultimately won.
Fox News Voter Poll data found that New York City voters ranked affordability as their top concern and that
New Jersey voters
reported the state’s high taxes and the economy ranked as their top two issues. Additionally, the poll data found that half of voters in Virginia said that the economy was their top priority.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
