US President Donald Trump said that after his meeting with the newly elected mayor of New York, Zoran Mamdani, at the White House, the two agreed on many more issues than he expected.
Trump admitted that the meeting "actually surprised him". "He wants to see no crime. He wants to build housing. He wants to lower rents. I agree with all of that," the president told reporters at the White House. He had previously sharply criticized Mamdani.
In response to a question about his previous threats to cut federal funding to New York, Trump said that he was not expected to do so. "I'm going to help him, I'm not going to hurt him, and I'm going to give him a lot of help because I want New York to be great. I think this mayor can do some really great things," the American leader said.
When asked if he would feel comfortable living in New York under Mamdani, Trump replied: "I would feel very, very comfortable in New York after this meeting."
Trump said he did not consider Mamdani a jihadist in a comment on the position of US Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who called the newly elected mayor of New York that.
“No. You'd have to ask her. I don't think so. "I think I met at the White House with a very rational person who wants to make New York great again," Trump said.
He added that he would be happy if Mamdani could make New York even greater than it was before.
Elise Stefanik announced her candidacy for governor of New York earlier in November. The position is currently held by Democrat Kathy Hochul.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will continue to combat illegal immigration in New York after the inauguration of the city's new mayor, Zoran Mamdani. This was stated by the White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, commenting on the meeting between US President Donald Trump and the newly elected mayor.
„Of course, we will continue the mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants. ICE will continue its operations in New York. This was discussed today in the Oval Office. President Trump never compromises his principles, but he is always ready to partner with people who want to make this country great again“, she said in an interview with Fox News.
New York mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, a Democrat, previously said that the city's police would not cooperate with ICE. He also promised that under his leadership New York “will remain a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, run by immigrants and now run by an immigrant“. Mamdani will be sworn in as mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026. The current mayor is Eric Adams.