New York’s mayor ‘ready’ for high-stakes Trump meeting
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New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaking at a Nov 20 press conference in New York.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet President Trump on Nov 21 to address New York's high cost of living, a key concern for many voters.
- Despite past threats from Trump to deport him and cut New York's funding, Mamdani seeks cooperation for affordable housing and childcare.
- Mamdani, a democratic socialist, aims to resist Trump's policies while acknowledging customary meetings between New York's mayor and the president.
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NEW YORK - New York’s incoming leftist mayor, Mr Zohran Mamdani, said he was “ready for whatever happens” when he meets US President Donald Trump in Washington on Nov 21, stressing their shared desire to tackle the cost of living.
Mr Trump has previously threatened to deport Uganda-born Mr Mamdani and falsely calls him a communist, but New York’s mayor-elect
The mayor-elect noted that tens of thousands of New Yorkers had voted for both Mr Trump and Mr Mamdani over the issue of cost of living, with rents and the cost of essentials higher there than in much of the United States.
Democratic socialist Mr Mamdani, elected earlier this month, has positioned himself as part of the resistance against a US president who has pushed the limits of his power, particularly targeting Democrat-run cities.
“It’s more critical than ever, given the national crisis of affordability, one that New Yorkers know very well... and the specific challenge many cities are facing in balancing public safety and steps taken by this administration,” Mr Mamdani said.
He noted that it was customary for a newly elected New York mayor to meet the US president, and that his staff had reached out to the White House to set up the meeting.
Mr Mamdani said that he and Mr Trump had “many disagreements” but that he would “pursue all avenues and meetings that can make our city affordable.”
As the first mayoral candidate to surpass the one-million-vote mark in New York since 1969, Mr Mamdani campaigned on pledges of affordable housing and childcare, as well as free rides on city buses and city-run grocery stores.
Experts have questioned the financial feasibility of some of Mr Mamdani’s pledges.
Anti-immigrant Mr Trump has derided Mr Mamdani’s South Asian name, and threatened to cut federal funding for New York when the Muslim politician takes the reins of New York, which was Mr Trump’s home for decades.
Mr Mamdani has not backed down from Mr Trump, calling out the 79-year-old Republican during his victory rally earlier this month.
White House meetings have been perilous affairs for leaders who have displeased Mr Trump, with the US president notably attacking the presidents of Ukraine and South Africa during visits to the Oval Office. AFP
