Hochul’s Advice to Mamdani Aims for Positive Trump Meeting
On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted her guidance to Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani, which could pave the way for a surprisingly amicable encounter with President Trump and help shield New York City from federal intervention.
Hochul mentioned that she spoke with Mamdani before the crucial White House meeting, urging him to gauge whether Trump had “confidence” in his leadership as a way to deter the president from deploying the National Guard to the city.
“Mamdani is already really committed,” she remarked. “I have faith in him—hope the president feels the same. We don’t need any kind of intervention from outside.”
The meeting in the Oval Office took on a surreal tone, with Trump noticeably impressed and praising Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has openly referred to the president as a “fascist.”
Interestingly, Trump retracted his earlier threat to send in the National Guard after Mamdani convinced him of his plans to address crime, including the retention of New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
“I want New York City to thrive, so my aim is to support him, not impede him. This is going to be beneficial,” Trump stated.
Hochul also emphasized that she advised Mamdani to explore potential collaborative efforts with Trump, referring to her own successful past meeting with the president that resulted in the federal oversight of long-awaited reforms for Penn Station.
While the governor expressed optimism, she stopped short of guaranteeing that federal funding for New York City wouldn’t be at risk due to Trump’s previous threats.
“I think we’re in a better place this Monday compared to last Friday,” she noted during a separate conference in the Bronx.
“The president had the chance to meet someone with the capability and vision our city requires right now,” she added.
Following the White House meeting, Mamdani reached out to Hochul to express his appreciation for her advice.
“I let the president know I was confident in Mamdani’s leadership,” she said.
