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Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, recently elected as New York City’s new mayor, is already facing backlash over the video he released following his victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Following his victory, Mamdani shared a video on X outlining his plans for the transition period, emphasizing that “a lot of work lies ahead.”
The newly elected New York City mayor thanked his supporters and explained that, while he had previously asked them to stop sending campaign donations, he was now encouraging contributions from “working class” residents to help fund the transition.
Mamdani said the funds would be used to hire policy experts, strengthen infrastructure, and support the early stages of his administration.
Along with the video, Mamdani wrote, “The leaves are changing and so is City Hall. Leave a donation to help us build a city that works for all of us. Thank you, New York City. Together we made history. Now let’s get to work.”
WATCH:
President Trump on Friday met the man who once called himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” but he found a very different tone inside the Oval Office with a room full of reporters and the world watching.
Mamdani was warm and complimentary, focusing on shared goals instead of the sharp public clashes that defined their rise.
Trump, who had previously labeled Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job,” said he was surprised by the mayor-elect and his ideas.
“I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump said as Mamdani stood beside him.
The meeting offered a political opportunity for both men.
For Mamdani, it was a chance to directly engage with the most powerful figure in American politics and elevate his profile beyond New York.
For Trump, it was a major platform to discuss affordability at a time when he is under growing pressure to show progress on cost-of-living issues.
Until now, the two men built their bases by attacking one another, and it is unclear how supporters on either side will react to their calm exchange.
“We’re going to be helping him, to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York,” Trump said.
“What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.
“Some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have,” Trump said about Mamdani’s approach to inflation.
Mamdani said he sought the meeting to address affordability concerns in New York City.
Trump has previously called him a “communist” and threatened to cut federal funding, but on Friday he pulled back from those remarks.
“We don’t want that to happen,” Trump said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
After the meeting, Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani’s former campaign manager and incoming chief of staff, told NY1 the two disagreed on many issues but found common ground on crime reduction.
“We discussed that we share a mutual goal of having a safe city where everyone can move around in comfort and ease,” she said.
She added that both men focused on where they could find agreement on affordability and fairness.
Mamdani said Thursday he was not worried about Trump using the meeting to embarrass him.
He said he saw it as an opportunity to make his case even while acknowledging “many disagreements with the president.”
Instead, both avoided confrontation and delivered unusually cordial remarks.
