A photo set taken on November 19, 2025, shows U.S. President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One on October 24, 2025, alongside New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on November 12, 2025. President Trump has announced that he will host Mamdani at the White House on Friday, November 21—a meeting that comes shortly after he sharply criticized the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist throughout his campaign.
Trump, who has repeatedly and falsely labeled Mamdani a “communist,” posted on his Truth Social platform that their meeting will take place in the Oval Office on Friday.
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Pekec, confirmed the Mayor-elect will attend the meeting, saying it is standard practice for an incoming city administration. According to Pekec, Mamdani intends to discuss public safety, economic stability, and his affordability-focused agenda—priorities backed by over one million New Yorkers who voted for him just two weeks ago.
The meeting brings together two political figures who both grew up in Queens, though their ideologies stand in sharp contrast. Trump continues to highlight booming stock market numbers under his leadership, while Mamdani’s economic perspective centers on addressing affordability challenges faced by over 8 million New Yorkers.
Mamdani made history as the first mayoral candidate in New York City since 1969 to secure more than one million votes. His campaign focused on expanding affordable housing and childcare, providing free bus transportation, and establishing city-operated grocery stores. However, analysts have expressed doubts about how realistic his wide-ranging proposals may be.
Trump—known for his harsh anti-immigrant stance—has mocked Mamdani’s South Asian name and even threatened to withhold federal funds from New York following the Muslim mayor-elect’s victory. At one rally, Trump intentionally mispronounced the Uganda-born politician’s surname, saying, “Mandami, whatever the hell his name is.”
Mamdani has openly criticized Trump in return, calling him out during his victory celebration earlier this month. The White House later confirmed through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that the president had watched Mamdani’s remarks.
