New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani recently held a meeting with President Trump. This encounter occurred despite a history of contentious exchanges between the two leaders; Mamdani had previously characterized the President as a 'fascist,' while President Trump had labeled Mamdani a 'little communist mayor' and issued warnings about potential National Guard deployment and expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations within the city.
The meeting was described by some as surprisingly cordial. President Trump was quoted stating, 'We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job, and we'll help him do a great job.'
Public and Immigrant Community Reactions
Despite the seemingly amicable meeting, many New Yorkers remain cautious. A street vendor in Queens, who requested anonymity due to her undocumented status and concerns about immigration enforcement, expressed distrust, noting, 'The president says one thing one day, and a different thing the next. You don't know what's real anymore.' She reported an observed increase in immigration enforcement activity, including an incident where ICE agents pursued individuals near her street stand. The vendor also voiced fears that New York City could face punitive actions from the federal government for electing a democratic socialist mayor, citing precedents in Chicago and Los Angeles which experienced large-scale immigration raids.
The day following the White House meeting, President Trump reiterated that while there were no immediate plans to deploy troops to New York, such action remained an option 'if needed.' The Department of Homeland Security did not provide a comment to NPR regarding this statement.
Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Stance and Future Plans
Mayor-elect Mamdani publicly affirmed his commitment to defending immigrants in New York. Although his team did not grant an interview, an anonymous source close to his transition team informed NPR that Mamdani is exploring local legal strategies to counteract potential federal actions in New York City. These strategies reportedly include strengthening the NYC Law Department by adding 200 attorneys.
Congressman Patrick Ryan (D-Hudson Valley) highlighted the success of states in legally challenging federal administrations. Ryan, an Iraq War veteran, described the hypothetical deployment of U.S. troops against citizens in American cities as 'fundamentally un-American.' He expressed a desire for de-escalation of tensions but advised preparedness for potential adverse developments.
Advocacy Group Response
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, Deputy Director of the advocacy group Street Vendor Project, underscored the vulnerability of street vendors within New York's immigrant community. She stated that vendors are 'the eyes on the ground' and are preparing for potential ICE campaigns, viewing it as 'the next pandemic.' Her organization is implementing strategies, such as a catering program, to support vendors during periods of heightened enforcement. Kaufman-Gutierrez also expressed hope that Mayor-elect Mamdani would facilitate street vendor operations, referencing his pledges to increase license availability and repeal criminal liability rules for vendors.
The unnamed street vendor concluded by expressing uncertainty about the duration of the current federal administration's policies, hoping its remaining three years would pass quickly.