The president of the United States Donald Trump said he will meet with New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in a private meeting on Friday after he fiercely criticizing the self-described 34-year-old Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.
Trump in his erroneous claim of Mamdani was the “communist,” said on his Truth Social platform that the meeting “will take place at the Oval Office on Friday”.
A spokesperson from Mamdani Dora Pekec confirmed the meeting in an official statement.
“As is customary for an incoming mayoral administration, 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 told reporters on Wednesday.
Donald Trump’s visit to Mamdani is a sign of the reunion of two brothers who were born in the Queens Borough in New York, but their similarities could end there.
While Trump frequently boasts about record-breaking gains made on Wall Street during his presidency Mamdani’s outlook of the economy goes beyond the booming financial markets of the heart of downtown Manhattan to a housing issue facing a city of more than 8 million inhabitants.
Mamdani was the first candidate for mayor to reach the milestone of one million votes within New York since 1969, Mamdani campaigned with promises to provide affordable homes and child care and free bus rides on city buses and grocery stores run by the city.
Some experts have doubted Mamdani’s capacity to fulfill his dream and wide-ranging platform.
A virulently anti-immigrant Trump has slammed the Mamdani’s South Asian name, and threatened to cut federal support to New York upon the Muslim’s choice to lead America’s biggest city.
“Mandami, whatever the hell his name is,” Trump stated recently, deliberately mispronouncing the Ugandan politician’s name.
Mamdani hasn’t backed down from Trump and has slammed the 79-year-old Republican in his victory anthem earlier in the month.
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you — turn the volume up!” Trump told his adoring fans.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that the president actually watched Mamdani talk.
