That issue was the cornerstone of Mamdani’s mayoral platform, which included policies like free buses, universal childcare and rent freezes for rent-stabilized apartments. In the past, Trump has repeatedly said he’d curb federal funding to the city if Mamdani were elected and suggested that he’d take actions to “straighten out” New York. Mamdani said he didn’t view Friday’s meeting as a venue for personal disputes but rather as an opportunity to advocate for his constituents. Advertisement“It’s not about myself, it’s not about a relationship with an individual, it’s about a relationship between New York City and the White House, the president, the federal administration,” he said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, was less conciliatory.
