On Friday, President Trump met with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House.
The meeting caught some off guard, since Mamdani has often called Trump a “fascist” and “despot.” Still, the mayor-elect said he is willing to cooperate with the president on issues that matter to New Yorkers.
“That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today,” Mamdani told NBC’s Meet the Press when asked if he still views Trump as a fascist.
Mamdani said the conversation focused on the city’s affordability problems. He told Trump that voters in both their elections were concerned about the high cost of living in New York City.
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“What I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement,” Mamdani said. “We also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordable crisis for New Yorkers.”
During the Oval Office press conference, Trump interrupted when a reporter asked Mamdani again about calling him a fascist. “That’s OK. You can just say yes,” Trump said. “It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”
Mamdani said he explained to Trump that voters often chose leaders based on affordability issues. He mentioned speaking with New Yorkers on Fordham Road in The Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens, hearing the same reason repeatedly: cost of living.
The mayor-elect also discussed city bureaucracy with Trump, including restrictive zoning rules and the lengthy Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which slows down new housing projects. He said the conversation included ideas to make building more practical and affordable.
Mamdani confirmed he will continue to push for higher income and corporate taxes to fund programs like free child care, free buses, and affordable housing. Still, he said he is open to other funding methods if they help achieve the same goals.
“And what I’ve also said is more important than how we fund something is that we fund something,” Mamdani said. “And if there are additional or alternate revenue streams to do so, I will accept them, and I will celebrate them because the most important thing is to actually deliver for the New Yorkers who, right now, can’t even conceive of having a family in New York City because of how expensive we’ve made childcare across the five boroughs.”
On policing, Mamdani said he has no plans to expand the NYPD beyond its current 35,000 officers. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain in her role under the new administration, even though she has previously advocated for a larger force.
Featured image via X screengrab
