New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said Thursday he intends to work with President Donald Trump where possible despite major ideological differences, highlighting affordability as the top priority for his upcoming meeting at the White House, as reported by Fox News.

Mamdani will meet with Trump on Friday, marking their first official discussion since the mayoral election.

Speaking at a press conference at City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan, Mamdani said, “I intend to make it clear to President Trump that I will work with him on any agenda that benefits New Yorkers. If an agenda hurts New Yorkers, I will also be the first to say something.”

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He acknowledged the political divide between them but said the city’s challenges require cooperation. “I know that for tens of thousands of New Yorkers, this meeting is between two very different candidates who they voted for, for the same reason,” he said.

“They wanted a leader who would take on the cost of living crisis that makes it impossible for working people to afford living in this city.”

Trump has been openly critical of Mamdani’s political positions, referring to him as a “Communist Lunatic” after the election. Before Election Day, Trump warned he would consider pulling federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won.

After the election, Trump said he would “help them a little bit.”

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Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, said affordability would be central to his meeting with the president.

“When we speak about an affordability crisis, we’re speaking about 1 in 4 New Yorkers living in poverty, 1 in 5 struggling to afford $2.90 to ride the bus. New Yorkers, for whom the daily acts of life are becoming increasingly harder to afford,” Mamdani said.

The meeting comes amid rising costs for transportation, housing and basic necessities across the city. Mamdani said that despite disagreements on major policy areas, he would work with the administration whenever it aligns with the needs of New Yorkers.

Trump and Mamdani have clashed in the past, with the president repeatedly criticizing the mayor-elect’s positions during the campaign. Mamdani said Thursday that disagreements would not prevent him from attempting to secure support for New York City.

The White House meeting is expected to focus on economic concerns and federal partnerships. Mamdani did not elaborate on specific proposals but emphasized that affordability would guide his approach.

The mayor-elect said he hopes to make clear that the city’s residents expect cooperation to ease cost pressures impacting daily life.

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