WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he will host New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting on Friday, after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform the mayor-elect “asked for a meeting” and it “will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.”
Mamdani, for his part, did not immediately confirm the meeting.
Trump’s meeting with Mamdani marks the coming together of two men raised in the Queens borough of New York, but their similarities may end there.
Virulently anti-immigrant Trump has derided Mamdani’s South Asian name and threatened to cut federal funding for New York upon the Muslim’s election to run America’s largest city.
“Mandami, whatever the hell his name is,” Trump said recently — deliberately mispronouncing the Uganda-born politician’s surname.
Mamdani has not backed down from Trump, calling out the 79-year-old Republican during his victory rally earlier this month.
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you — turn the volume up!” he said to his cheering supporters.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the president had indeed watched Mamdani speak.
Trump has repeatedly turned the powers of the presidency on political rivals.
Mamdani made countering the 79-year-old Republican president’s actions in the city – especially on immigration – a centrepiece of his successful campaign.
Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City mayor on January 1, 2026.
— With additional input from Reuters
