Overview
- President Donald Trump set a Friday, Nov. 21 Oval Office meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in a Truth Social post, and Mamdani’s spokesperson confirmed the appointment.
- Mamdani plans to focus on public safety, economic security and affordability, saying he will press the case on costs such as groceries, transit and childcare, and has signaled concern about SNAP benefits.
- The session will be their first in person after a combative campaign in which Trump repeatedly labeled Mamdani a communist and warned of potential funding cuts and aggressive federal actions.
- Mamdani’s team initiated the outreach to the White House, with the mayor-elect saying he will work with anyone if it helps New Yorkers but will oppose moves he believes would harm the city.
- City–federal stakes are high, with New York receiving about $10 billion in federal funds in FY2025 as the administration reviews aid flows, paused $18 billion in infrastructure funds on Oct. 1, and signaled stepped-up immigration enforcement in major cities.