Will Trump and Mamdani Really Get Along?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump and Mamdani aim to collaborate despite differing philosophies.
- The meeting highlights the challenges of political discourse.
- Mamdani plans to prioritize public safety and affordability.
- Trump has a history of labeling Mamdani negatively.
- This meeting could set a precedent for future interactions.
Washington, Nov 21 (NationPress) Just hours ahead of his scheduled meeting with New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that he and Mamdani "will get along fine."
During an interview with Fox News on Friday, Trump acknowledged Mamdani's "different philosophy," but highlighted that both share a common goal: "to make New York strong."
"He's got a different philosophy. He's a little bit different. I give him a lot of credit for the run. He did a successful run, and we all know that runs are not easy, but I think we'll get along fine. Look, we're looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong," Trump noted.
Trump also commented on Mamdani’s victory speech, which directly referenced him, urging Trump to "turn the volume up" on the television.
"So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us," Mamdani proclaimed.
Trump admitted that he may have been targeting Mamdani "a little too hard."
"It was... hard to be totally friendly toward the opponent... he had some interesting opponents, but he ran a good race. I don't know exactly what he means by turn the volume up... He has to be careful what he says to me... he was very nice in calling... and we're gonna have a meeting... I think it's going to be quite civil," Trump added.
On Thursday, the White House took a jab at Mamdani, labeling him a "communist" set to meet with Trump.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked, "It speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House, because that's who the Democrat party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country," referring to Mamdani. She added that the president is "willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone to try to do what’s right on behalf of the American people."
Trump had previously announced the meeting via Truth Social on Wednesday, branding Mamdani as the "Communist Mayor of New York City" and confirming that the mayor-elect had requested the Oval Office meeting. "We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st," Trump stated.
Mamdani also held a briefing in New York on Thursday, stating his intention to outline priorities for the city and seek common ground with the president. "I’m not concerned about this meeting," he expressed. "I view this meeting as an opportunity to make my case," adding that it "behoves me to leave no stone unturned in making the city more affordable."
The mayor-elect indicated that he plans to discuss matters including public safety, affordability, and economic stability during the Oval Office meeting.
This meeting follows a series of confrontations during the New York mayoral campaign. Trump consistently labeled Mamdani a "communist," predicted economic and social decline under his leadership, and threatened to withdraw federal funding to New York City if Mamdani triumphed.
In a surprising move, Trump endorsed Mamdani’s rival, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent. Mamdani won against Cuomo by nearly nine percentage points in the November 4 election, becoming the first Democratic socialist elected mayor of the nation’s largest city.