Zohran Mamdani returned to New York after his meeting with President Trump at the White House on Friday, where their unexpectedly friendly Oval Office press conference appeared to go off without a hitch.
The mayor-elect spoke to reporters Sunday morning outside a Bronx church where he said high stakes The meeting with the president was “productive” and focused on the interests of New Yorkers.
“I was heartened by the responses I received from New Yorkers across the five boroughs who were encouraged by the focus on the cost of living and the affordability crisis that many face in this city, because too often when two politicians meet, the conversation rarely moves beyond them,” Mamdani said.
“I liked the tone”
Mr Trump said on Friday they had a “really good meeting” after the pair spoke privately in the Oval Office and then held a joint press conference.
“We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job, and we will help him do a great job,” the president said.
The men had public sparring for several monthsthe president falsely called Mamdani a “communist” and the elected mayor vowed to “Trump-proof” the city in his Victory speech on election night.
“I appreciated the tone and the fact that we were both looking forward to a productive meeting,” Mamdani said on Sunday.
Mamdani said he supports statements about fascism
One wonderful moment It came when a reporter asked Mamdani about his comments calling Trump a “fascist” and the president told him, “You can just say yes.”
During an appearance on NBC's “Meet the Press” Sunday, the mayor-elect said, “I've said it before, I say it today.”
“I think what I liked about the conversation I had with the president was that we weren't shy about the differences and the politics that got us to this point. And we also wanted to focus on what that might look like to provide an overall analysis of the affordability crisis for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.
In the Bronx, he was asked what message it might send that he was now posing for photographs with the president.
“I think my responsibility as mayor of the city is to work with everyone who can help mitigate the affordability crisis and ensure dignity for every person who calls the city home, and I think it's critically important to be honest about our own opinions, our own assessments, and to be willing to work with anyone who can contribute to that,” Mamdani responded.
General views on the cost of living
Before traveling to Washington, the mayor-elect said that plans to focus on accessibilitynoting that he and the President had both campaigned on the issue. On Sunday he said he “feels good after this meeting.”
“We talked about things that we've all been paying attention to for quite some time, whether we're talking about housing or public transport or child care,” said Mamdani.
There was a lot at stake at their meeting, including everything from federal funding for infrastructure projects immigration protocols and clearances of the elected mayor.
When asked if he thought Mr. Trump could send in federal troops or what it means for the development of their relationship, Mamdani said he is “confident that we are establishing a productive relationship.”
“I can only handle one meeting at a time, one conversation at a time. And all I hoped to do in this conversation was to establish a working relationship and have a productive meeting about the work itself,” he added.
Read more about immigration
Mamdani went on to say they talked about the city's sanctuary policy, which he said allows the city government to coordinate with federal law enforcement on about 170 serious crimes.
“The concern is not just because of these crimes: many New Yorkers who are currently being arrested are being detained and deported for the crime of appearing for a regular court date. Federal Plaza, 26“for the crime of simply being in New York City,” he said. “And how I, as the city's next mayor, will focus on protecting the immigrants who call the city home and ensuring the public safety of every New Yorker living in these five boroughs.”
The mayor-elect said they also talked about NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain on the job as chief of the police department.
“One of the last decisions we made to retain Commissioner Tisch was one that actually came up in my conversation with President Trump. It was a decision that he, like me and many New Yorkers, viewed as a reflection of the importance we place on public safety,” he said.
