NEW YORK — Two Queens men who frequently fight publicly — one the nation’s president and the other soon-to-be mayor of its largest city — are set to meet for the first time.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Nov. 21 White House meeting between President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Trump, a 79-year-old Republican, and Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, are diametrically opposed in style and substance. But both have ardent supporters and campaigned on addressing affordability. Mamdani's campaign first went viral for speaking to Trump's supporters in the Bronx and Queens.
Earlier this month, Mamdani, a state assemblyman who takes office on New Year’s Day, devoted part of his victory speech to speak to Trump directly. As mayor, he said he would stand up to the president if Trump tries to send military or immigration agents into the 37% foreign-born city of 8.5 million people.
If Mamdani doesn’t help with Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown, Trump previously said he would arrest Mamdani and suggested stripping him of his citizenship. Trump has repeatedly and inaccurately called Mamdani a “communist," including in his Nov. 19 Truth Social announcement of the scheduled meeting.
