Trump met with socialist NYC mayor-elect Mamdani after calling him a "communist" who'd destroy New York

President Trump met NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office on November 21, 2025, for approximately 30 minutes. Trump called it a 'great meeting' and said 'I want to be helping him, not hurting him.' This came weeks after Trump called Mamdani—a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist who won the mayoral election November 4, 2025—his 'worst nightmare' and a 'communist' who would destroy 🗽New York.

Mamdani won NYC's Democratic primary in June 2025, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo 56.4% to 43.6% in the final round of ranked-choice voting. He then won the general election on November 4, 2025, with 50.78% of the vote, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani became NYC's first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor, and youngest mayor since 1892.

Mamdani campaigned on a progressive affordability platform including: freezing rent on rent-stabilized units, making city buses fare-free, opening city-run grocery stores, building additional affordable housing, universal childcare, and raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030. He won endorsements from BSBernie Sanders and AOAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The meeting covered housing affordability, infrastructure funding, crime reduction, and energy policy. Mamdani discussed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal with Trump, explaining 'what it can look like when the federal government and 🗽New York City government work together to deliver on affordability.' They specifically discussed the Gateway Tunnel project, MTA repairs, and public housing upgrades.

🗽New York City depends on $7.4 billion in annual federal funding for public housing ($4.2 billion), public education ($1.8 billion), SNAP benefits ($900 million), and transit ($600 million). Trump controls whether that money flows to the city or gets withheld, giving him leverage over Mamdani's ambitious agenda. State law requires NYC to balance its budget, so losing federal funding would force massive service cuts or tax increases.

After the meeting, Mamdani told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Saturday that he still believes Trump is 'a fascist' and 'a despot' but came to the White House to seek federal resources New Yorkers need regardless of who is president. When a reporter asked Mamdani if he stood by the 'despot' comment during the meeting, Trump interrupted: 'That's OK, you can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it.'

Trump threatened to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities starting February 1, 2026, specifically targeting 🗽New York. Courts blocked similar attempts in 2017-2018, ruling presidents can't withhold unrelated funding to force policy changes. But Trump's administration filed new lawsuits in 2025 claiming the president's 'unitary executive power' overrides court precedent.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Mamdani a 'communist coming to the White House' before the meeting. However, Trump publicly disagreed with Rep. Elise Stefanik's characterization of Mamdani as a 'jihadist,' saying 'No, I don't' when asked during the meeting. Trump declined to agree with conservative attacks calling Mamdani a 'jihadist,' showing he prioritized dealmaking over GOP talking points.

The meeting shocked political observers because Trump praised Mamdani's campaign and said he would feel comfortable living in 🗽New York City under a Mamdani administration. Trump said he was surprised by 'several broad areas of agreement,' including crime reduction, housing construction, and lowering rents. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams called the meeting 'pretty shocking' and 'pretty surprising.'

NYC faces an $8 billion budget shortfall next fiscal year, widening to $17 billion if Mamdani enacts his full campaign platform. Without federal dollars for Medicaid, education, SNAP, and transit, the city can't function. Trump didn't commit to specific funding in the meeting but said he 'wants 🗽New York to succeed'—a vague promise that gives him flexibility to withhold money later while claiming he tried to help.

The meeting follows Trump's pattern of attacking critics publicly, then offering cooperation when it serves him politically. He did this with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Republican lawmakers who criticized him then endorsed him. For Trump, praising a Democratic Socialist costs nothing but generates headlines showing he's a dealmaker who works with anyone.

Mamdani's Democratic Socialists of America allies issued statements after the meeting expressing concerns about working with Trump. Some DSA members criticized the meeting as legitimizing Trump. However, Mamdani defended the meeting as necessary to secure federal resources for New Yorkers, framing it as pragmatic governance rather than political compromise.