In a personal reflection, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his view that President Donald Trump remains a fascist and a danger to democracy, even as he expressed a willingness to collaborate with him on issues critical to New Yorkers. The remarks, follow Mamdani’s first Oval Office meeting with Trump as mayor-elect, where both emphasized shared concerns over the city’s soaring rental prices and grocery costs.
Mamdani, who will become the city’s first elected Muslim mayor, acknowledged that despite deep ideological differences, his priority is to deliver results for residents. “I’ve made it very clear that what we want to do is ensure public safety and accessibility, and the NYPD will do it,” he said when asked whether Trump had promised not to send federal troops into the city.
Tensions between the two have been high in recent months, with Trump repeatedly threatening to arrest Mamdani and cut off federal funding to New York. Yet their Friday meeting appeared to strike a tentative chord of cooperation, centered on the urgent need to address affordability.
On Saturday, Trump commented that he would still consider deploying the National Guard to New York “if they need it,” though he added that “other places need it more” at this time. Mamdani, however, stood firm in his assessment, describing Trump not only as a threat to the nation’s democratic foundations but also to the wellbeing of New York City itself.
