What to know about Trump-Mamdani feud ahead of White House meeting
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Zohran Mamdani (left) in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 4. Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images. President Trump (right) in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 10 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The war of words between President Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will culminate at the White House Friday when they meet face-to-face for the first time.
Why it matters: Mamdani, the unabashed democratic socialist, is seen as a potential foil for the president and his MAGA agenda. But he faces a daunting reality: Trump can make the mayor-elect's job a lot harder if he follows through on threats to freeze federal funding or ramp up immigration enforcement in NYC.
- The meeting is scheduled for Friday at 3pm ET.
State of play: Heading into Election Day, Trump went on a Truth Social tirade in a last-ditch effort to dissuade New Yorkers from supporting Mamdani, whom he has repeatedly and falsely called a communist.
- "If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!" Trump said in one post.
- Meanwhile, Mamdani made a point to address Trump in his victory remarks: "If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," he said.
The intrigue: Trump said in a Friday interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade that he and Mamdani may participate in a joint press conference after their meeting.
Here's what to know ahead of their White House meeting:
Federal funding freeze
Friction point: Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from a city that relies on billions each year.
- Mamdani's affordability agenda, which includes instituting a rent freeze, free bus fare and city-run grocery stories, is expected to lean, in part, on federal funding.
- New York City is supposed to receive $7.4 billion in federal funds in fiscal year 2026, accounting for 6.4% of the city's budget.
Zoom in: Depending on which federal funds he freezes, Trump could hinder one of Mamdani's key campaign promises: expanding the development and production of affordable housing.
- New York's Department of Housing Preservation & Development gets 50% of its budget from the federal government.
National Guard deployment and immigration
Threat level: Trump warned in October that he'd deploy the National Guard to New York City if Mamdani was elected — a prospect that would likely be met with mass protests similar to what has transpired in Chicago and other progressive cities where Trump has done so.
- In July, Trump threatened to arrest Mamdani if he doesn't allow federal immigration officials to arrest undocumented immigrants in New York City.
- In February, NYC Mayor Eric Adams pledged collaboration on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Mamdani said this week NYPD under his watch will deliver public safety, not assist ICE, per a PIX11 News interview released Wednesday.
Zoom out: Mamdani said in a November interview that Trump's threats are "inevitable" and that he'd utilize the court system to push back.
- "This has nothing to do with safety," Mamdani said. "It has to do with intimidation."
Escalating feud
Trump has insulted Mamdani as "bad news" and "a total nut job," and even attacked his supporters.
- He has also amplified false claims that Mamdani, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is not in the country legally.
- Congressional Republicans are planning to "weaponize" Mamdani as the new face of the Democratic Party in the midterms.
The other side: Mamdani has criticized the Trump administration for transphobic policies, firing government officials and cracking down on immigration.
- Mamdani has met privately with several Democratic governors and some potential 2028 presidential candidates to discuss how to take on Trump and tackle other priorities.
Go deeper: Trump, White House coy on unfreezing NYC funds before Mamdani meeting
