NEW YORK: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his willingness to meet US President Donald Trump to explore ways to serve New Yorkers, while cautioning that any discussion that compromises residents’ welfare “will be rejected outright.”
“I continue to be interested in having a conversation with President Trump on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers—whether that means delivering on his campaign promises around cost of living or addressing the issues people have shared with me,” Mamdani told reporters on Wednesday.
The White House has yet to congratulate him on his election win, he added.
Mamdani, however, drew a clear line on principle: “If it is a conversation that comes at the expense of those people, then I will fight that idea tooth and nail, because my job is to serve this city.”
Criticizing Republican reluctance to tackle working-class concerns, Mamdani said, “What scares Republicans across the country is that we will actually deliver on this agenda—and the contrast is something they cannot bear to witness.”
He also pledged strong action against anti-Semitism, vowing his administration “will stand steadfast with Jewish New Yorkers in fighting the scourge” and will “celebrate and cherish” the community.
Emphasizing the rule of law, Mamdani said every resident “will be held to the same standard,” promising an “era of consistency, clarity, and conviction” for all New Yorkers.
The mayor-elect confirmed plans to work with outgoing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to ensure a smooth transition. Ilana Leopold will lead the process, with co-chairs including former FTC chair Lina Khan, former deputy mayors Maria Torres Springer and Melanie Hartzog, and United Way CEO Grace Bonilla—an all-female team Mamdani described as “formidable.”
