WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will host New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the Oval Office on Friday, just weeks after attacking him repeatedly during one of the most contentious mayoral races in decades.
Trump, who has falsely labeled Mamdani a “communist” and mocked his name during the campaign, posted on Truth Social that the meeting “will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.”
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, confirmed the meeting, describing it as standard protocol for any incoming mayor.
“The Mayor-elect plans to meet with the President in Washington to discuss public safety, economic security, and the affordability agenda that over one million New Yorkers voted for just two weeks ago,” Pekec said.
A Historic Win and an Unusual Pairing
Mamdani, 34, became the first NYC mayoral candidate since 1969 to surpass one million votes, running on an ambitious platform that promised affordable housing, publicly funded childcare, free bus service, and even city-owned grocery stores.
His stunning victory electrified progressives nationwide — but also drew sharp hostility from Trump, whose approval base is deeply opposed to Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda.
Despite hailing from the same borough of Queens, the two men have almost nothing in common politically. Trump touts soaring Wall Street gains during his presidency, while Mamdani has focused on the financial pressures faced by working-class New Yorkers.
Trump’s Attacks and Mispronunciations
Throughout the campaign, Trump derided Mamdani’s Uganda-born, South Asian heritage and mispronounced his surname on purpose.
“Mandami, whatever the hell his name is,” Trump said at a rally, drawing criticism for what many viewed as race-baiting rhetoric.
He also threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if Mamdani won — a threat legal scholars dismissed as unlikely to survive court challenges.
Mamdani Fires Back
The mayor-elect has not shied away from Trump’s attacks. During his victory rally, Mamdani addressed the president directly:
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching — I have four words for you: turn the volume up!”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Trump had indeed watched the speech.
What Friday’s Meeting May Bring
While tensions remain high, experts say the White House meeting could set the tone for the federal–city relationship over the next four years. Funding for transit, housing, public safety, and federal support for asylum seekers are all expected to be on the table.
Both men enter the conversation from opposing ideological worlds — but with New York’s future at stake, the meeting is likely to be closely watched across the country.
