Trump to Meet Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday

US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday, marking the first encounter between the Republican leader and the democratic socialist who won this month’s mayoral election.

The two figures have previously been critical of one another, with Trump supporting Mamdani’s rival, Andrew Cuomo, during the campaign.

Meanwhile, Mamdani has criticized Trump administration policies, including immigration crackdowns and the handling of protests against US support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict.

Trump confirmed the meeting on social media, stating, “We have agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office on Friday, November 21st.”

Earlier in the week, Mamdani told reporters that his team had contacted the White House to arrange the discussion. “My team reached out to the White House to fulfill a commitment I made to New Yorkers over the course of this campaign,” he said on Monday.

Mamdani’s transition team has not immediately responded to Trump’s announcement on Wednesday.

Trump has repeatedly turned the powers of the presidency on political rivals. During the New York City mayoral election campaign, Trump threatened to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding from the city if Mamdani won.

Mamdani made countering the 79-year-old Republican president’s actions in the city, especially on immigration, a centrepiece of his successful campaign.

Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City mayor on January 1, 2026.