President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that he would be open to a meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, signaling a more measured approach despite the two figures’ history of mutual antagonism. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for Washington, Trump indicated that his administration wants to maintain a functional relationship with the incoming mayor.
“The mayor of New York, I will say, would like to meet with us and we’ll work something out,” Trump said. “But he would like to come to Washington and meet and we’ll work something out. We want to see everything work out well for New York.”
The president’s remarks mark a shift from the combative tone he has previously taken toward Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who has repeatedly positioned himself in opposition to Trump’s policies. During the mayoral campaign, Mamdani famously called himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare” and openly challenged Trump on immigration and federal enforcement.
Trump has previously threatened to take punitive action against the city if Mamdani pursued certain initiatives, including a pledge to remove Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from New York. In July, he went so far as to vow that he would arrest the future mayor if he carried out that promise. Trump has also labeled Mamdani a “total nutjob” and warned that the city could face funding consequences if the new administration did not “do the right thing.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump indicated that he is willing to engage with the incoming mayor for the sake of governance and the well-being of New Yorkers. Mamdani has said he intends to reach out to the White House once he assumes office. “I will be reaching out to the White House as we prepare to actually take office because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city,” Mamdani told NBC New York on Tuesday.
While Trump has long taken an assertive and confrontational stance toward figures like Mamdani, his latest remarks suggest a willingness to prioritize practical governance and maintain open channels with the new administration in New York. By emphasizing the city’s broader interests, the president signaled that cooperation may take precedence over personal animosity, at least in official dealings.
The dialogue between Trump and Mamdani is poised to shape the federal-city relationship in the coming months, with both sides navigating the tension between political ideology and administrative responsibility. As Mamdani prepares to assume office, early communications with the White House could determine how federal support and oversight intersect with his ambitious local agenda.
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