Obama and NYC Mayor Mamdani Meet in The Bronx

The former president and current mayor read to children at a pre-K center, discussing the city's future.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former President Barack Obama reading to a group of young children in a sunlit pre-K classroom, capturing the warmth and intimacy of the moment through the use of light, shadow, and muted colors.An unexpected meeting between two prominent Democrats highlights the potential for collaboration across political divides to benefit New York City's children.NYC Today

Former President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met for the first time in-person on Saturday at a pre-K center in the South Bronx, where they read to a group of toddlers. The two Democratic leaders discussed the mayor's vision for the city and the importance of early childhood education, though Mamdani had previously criticized Obama as 'pretty damn evil' while the former president was still in office.

Why it matters

The meeting between the high-profile Democratic figures comes as Mamdani's relationship with former President Donald Trump has shown signs of strain in recent days, with Trump accusing the mayor of 'destroying New York' and 'chasing people out.' The interaction between Obama and Mamdani highlights the shifting political dynamics in New York City.

The details

During their visit to the Learning Through Play Pre-K Center, Obama and Mamdani read to the children and sang 'The Wheels on the Bus.' The City Hall statement said the two leaders discussed the mayor's vision for the city and the importance of providing a strong start for New York's young children. While Obama did not endorse Mamdani's campaign, the two spoke by phone in November, shortly before Mamdani's election victory.

  • Obama and Mamdani met in-person on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • In 2013, when Obama was still president, Mamdani referred to him as 'pretty damn evil' in a social media post.
  • Obama spoke with Mamdani by phone in November 2025, shortly before the mayor's election victory.

The players

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who served from 2009 to 2017.

Zohran Mamdani

The current Mayor of New York City, elected in 2025.

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who served from 2017 to 2021.

Kathy Hochul

The current Governor of New York, who announced this week that she will support a pied-à-terre tax proposed by Mamdani.

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What they’re saying

“Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Barack Obama read to a group of toddlers at Learning Through Play Pre-K Center in the South Bronx. In between singing wheels on the bus, the two leaders discussed the Mayor's vision for the City and the importance of giving New York's Cutest the strongest start possible.”

— City Hall, Statement

“I mean, he's a nice guy. Calls me all the time, says hi, but his policies are no good. He's chasing people out and causing a lot of harm to everybody, I mean, everybody's taxes are going through the roof.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This meeting between Obama and Mamdani highlights the shifting political dynamics in New York City, as the new mayor navigates relationships with both Democratic and Republican leaders. The interaction also comes as Mamdani's policies, such as the proposed pied-à-terre tax, are drawing criticism from some, including former President Trump.