NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Meet Trump at White House After State of the Union Jab

The surprise visit follows Trump's criticism of Mamdani during his State of the Union address.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 6:38pm

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President Donald Trump will host New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a meeting at the White House on Thursday, just days after Trump attacked Mamdani during his State of the Union speech. The visit was not on Trump's public schedule, and the White House did not immediately comment on the timing or substance of the planned meeting. The surprise trip comes after Trump called Mamdani 'the new communist mayor of New York City' and accused him of hypocrisy over voter ID laws.

Why it matters

The meeting between the Democratic mayor and Republican president is notable given their past public criticisms of each other. It suggests a potential thaw in tensions and an effort to find common ground, even as they remain at odds on key policy issues.

The details

Trump previously hosted Mamdani, the 34-year-old mayor-elect, for a warm White House visit in November shortly after his election. Despite Trump's past attacks calling Mamdani a 'communist,' the two men engaged in a 'love-fest' press conference, with Trump predicting Mamdani would be 'a really great mayor.' However, Trump has since renewed his criticism of Mamdani, attacking him during the State of the Union over the city's voter ID policies.

  • President Trump will host Mayor Mamdani at the White House on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • Trump attacked Mamdani during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The 34-year-old mayor of New York City, elected in 2025 as a self-described Democratic Socialist.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who was born and raised in Queens, New York.

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What they’re saying

“I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor — the better he does, the happier I am.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (New York Times)

“I will say there's no difference in party. There's no difference in anything, and we're going to be helping him to make everybody's dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (New York Times)

What’s next

The meeting between Mayor Mamdani and President Trump is expected to focus on areas of potential cooperation, despite their past disagreements. It remains to be seen if the two leaders can find common ground on key issues facing New York City.

The takeaway

The surprise White House visit highlights the complex political dynamics at play, with the Democratic mayor and Republican president setting aside their past criticisms to engage in direct dialogue. This meeting could signal a willingness to work together, even as they maintain divergent policy positions on issues like voter ID laws.