The meeting between US President Trump and New York Mayor candidate Mamdani turned out to be very harmonious. The two had previously fought in public.
11/22/2025 | 0:23 min
Even after his first meeting with US President Donald Trump, New York Mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani is sticking to his assessment of the US head of state. To him, Donald Trump remains a “fascist” and a danger to American democracy, Mamdani said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Mamdani acknowledged that he does not want to hide his political differences with Trump, but he must put them aside for the good of New Yorkers to find a solution to the East Coast metropolis’ pressing financial crisis.
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Problems in building systems as a common denominator
Left-wing Democratic politicians described the meeting with Trump as very positive. He and the US President both love New York and share the same concern for its citizens. This refers to rising rental prices, expensive child care, and the high cost of living in metropolitan cities.
New Yorkers want policies that recognize the magnitude of this crisis and actually start working together to address it
Zoran Mamdani, Mayor of New York
US President Trump and New York Mayoral candidate Mamdani have had a heated argument in public. At their first meeting, they surprisingly agreed.
11/22/2025 | 0:54 min
Mamdani explained that he had explained to the US President in their meeting that this was also true for many people who voted Republican in the last presidential election.
Another thing both agree on is the assumption that a “broken system” prevents reform at the central level. This includes complicated and lengthy construction and approval processes that often slow down investors in housing developments and urban development in general in New York – an issue that Trump as a former real estate entrepreneur may be familiar with.
Disagreements regarding security and migration policies
Overlap in security and migration policy issues is reduced. Regarding Trump’s previous threat to send federal troops to New York to fight crime, Mamdani said he has made it clear that public safety is part of his social agenda and remains the business of the city as well as the NYPD.
He also spoke about “sanctuary city” regulations — regulations that would require New York to only cooperate with federal authorities on migration policy in serious criminal cases.
Historical comparison as a bridge builder
At a White House reception on Friday, Trump and Mamdani admired a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Cabinet Room.
Mamdani made a historical comparison: To him, Fiorello La Guardia was the “greatest mayor” in the history of New York City. But he only led the metropolis out of the crisis with the support of the federal government. He envisions a similar partnership today.
Trump and Mamdani attacked each other violently during the election campaign. For US expert Julian Müller-Kaler, it was no surprise that the two hit it off on the first meeting.
11/22/2025 | 21:46 min
Source: dpa
