Tension that once defined the feud between President Donald Trump and New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appeared to ease on Sunday, as Trump signaled he is ready to sit down with the incoming leader.
He told reporters the two would “work something out,” hinting at an unexpected thaw between the Republican president and the Democrat he has so often cast as a political rival.
For months, Trump used Mamdani as a foil, branding him a “communist” and warning that New York would collapse if voters backed the democratic socialist candidate. He went as far as threatening to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, while also suggesting he could withhold federal support from the city.
READ ALSO: Zohran Mamdani makes history as NYC’s first Muslim, South Asian mayor
Mamdani’s profile grew rapidly during his mayoral bid. Once a little-known state legislator, he transformed into a high-visibility figure online and came to symbolize the broader resistance to Trump’s second-term agenda, which has centered on hardline immigration policies and muscular federal authority. His platform leaned heavily on progressive priorities and drew a sharp contrast with the White House.
At 34, Mamdani appealed to a wide range of New Yorkers and ultimately defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by nearly nine percentage points. On election night, he told supporters that New York could demonstrate how to stand up to Trump. Yet the following day, while outlining ideas for “Trump-proofing” the city once he takes office in January, he also stressed that he was open to cooperation if it meant improving life for residents.
According to AP’s report, Mamdani’s team did not immediately respond on Sunday to Trump’s comments. A spokesperson instead referenced the mayor-elect’s previous remarks, in which he said he hoped to contact the White House “because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city.”
Trump reiterated a similar tone. As he prepared to return to Washington after a weekend in Florida, he said, “The mayor of New York, I will say, would like to meet with us. We’ll work something out.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the president was speaking about Mamdani and noted that no meeting date had been arranged. Trump added, “We want to see everything work out well for New York.”
The president made those remarks while also revealing that the United States may soon enter discussions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following a military buildup near the South American nation. “I’ll talk to anybody,” Trump said.
READ ALSO: How Mamdani’s New York City mayoral victory is inspiring Uganda’s youth
Mamdani’s arrival on the national stage continues to resonate far beyond New York. His win made him both the city’s first Muslim mayor and its first South Asian mayor, a milestone reached in an election that attracted more than two million voters and marked the city’s highest turnout in over fifty years. With 90 percent of ballots counted, he led Cuomo by nine points, a decisive endorsement of his promise to reshape the city’s direction.
His victory is being celebrated by progressives who argue that Democrats should lean into bold, left-leaning politics rather than steering toward the center. That triumph came in spite of sustained attacks from Trump and other Republicans, who portrayed him as an extremist and warned that his leadership would jeopardize federal support.
“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change,” Mamdani said. “To make this city better for you than it was the day before.”
His ascent is also drawing attention in Uganda, where many young people see his rise as proof that global political influence is within reach for those from immigrant backgrounds. Conversations in Kampala and across the country reflect a sense of pride and curiosity about the possibilities of a new generation of leadership, inspired by a 34-year-old who now holds one of the most high-profile municipal offices in the world.
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