Overview
- New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani told NBC New York he will proactively call President Trump before Jan. 1, describing the relationship as critical to the city’s success.
- He said he aims to dissuade the administration from sending ICE agents or National Guard troops, adding he will work with the White House where possible and fight actions he believes harm New Yorkers.
- The outreach follows Trump’s repeated threats to limit federal funding to New York under a Mamdani administration, though the president recently said he might help “a little bit.”
- Mamdani named veteran budget hand Dean Fuleihan as first deputy mayor and campaign architect Elle Bisgaard-Church as chief of staff as he builds out his incoming administration.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul cautioned there is no plan to fund fare-free buses through the MTA now, and billionaire Barry Sternlicht warned Mamdani’s policies could drive investment out of the city.