Trump and NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani to Hold First Meeting at White House Amid Political Tensions

The meeting between Trump and Mamdani will take place at the Oval Office. (File)

New York/Washington:

US President Donald Trump has announced that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will visit the White House for a meeting on Friday.

Trump has previously expressed strong criticism of Mamdani's policy positions, having warned before the November 4 election that a Mamdani victory would represent a "complete and total economic and social disaster" for New York City.

"Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran "Kwame" Mamdani, has asked for a meeting. We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st. Further details to follow!" Trump stated in a Wednesday post on Truth Social.

During his passionate victory speech, Mamdani directly challenged Trump's immigration policies, declaring that New York will continue to be strengthened by immigrants and will now be "led by an immigrant" following his historic election victory.

"After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power," Mamdani proclaimed to enthusiastic applause from supporters.

"This is not only how we stop Trump; it's how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up," he added.

Trump described Mamdani's victory address as "very angry," suggesting the new mayor was off to a poor start and would struggle to succeed without showing respect toward Washington.

When questioned about potential communication with Mamdani, Trump responded that "he should reach out to us really. I think he should reach out. I'm here. We'll see what happens. But I would think that it would be more appropriate for him to reach out to us." Trump added that he feels "so torn, because I would like to see the new mayor do well, because I love New York. I really love New York."

Trump, who has labeled Mamdani a "communist," remarked that "for thousands of years, communism has not worked. Communism or the concept of communism has not worked. I tend to doubt it's going to work this time."

Mamdani emerged victorious in the highly anticipated New York City mayoral race, becoming the first South Asian and Muslim elected to lead America's largest city.

He had maintained front-runner status in the NYC Mayoral election for months before defeating Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and political veteran former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who campaigned as an independent candidate and received Trump's official endorsement just hours before polling began.

Mamdani, of Indian descent, is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani. Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, he relocated to New York City with his family at age 7 and became a naturalized US citizen relatively recently, in 2018.