Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani vowed to maintain New York City’s sanctuary city status during a defiant speech Sunday — just two days after he and President Trump had an apparently rosy sit down in the Oval Office.
Mamdani made the promise while speaking at the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in the Bronx, where he said his vision for the city’s migrants was undeterred by Trump’s past threats to sic ICE and the National Guard on the Big Apple.
“I’ll let the president speak for himself, but I did make very clear that our focus comes back to public safety, delivering for each and every New Yorker and knowing that there may be disagreements between the president and myself, and there will continue to be,” Mamdani said. “And I will always make the case for each and every person that calls this city home.”
Mamdani vowed to maintain the Big Apple’s sanctuary city status while speaking at a Bronx church on Sunday. Tomas E. Gaston for NY Post
The future Hizzoner met with Trump at the White House on Friday in what was feared to be a tense showdown between the leaders on the polar opposite sides of the political spectrum.
But it turned out to be a friendly affair that saw the two hitting it off in front of shocked reporters, with Trump even joking that it was okay for Mamdani to call him a fascist when pressed on such past comments.
The president even walked back his threats to send the National Guard to New York City if Mamdani won, saying he expects “to be helping him, not hurting him.”
How that will actually play out — especially with Mamdani already doubling down on immigration policies that Trump won the White House campaigning against — remains to be seen.
But the pair seem to have found common ground for now over making Gotham affordable for New Yorkers, and Mamdani reiterated Sunday that he wanted to work with the president where he could to fulfill that vision for the city.
Mamdani said he would work with the president after the pair traded insults throughout the mayor-elect’s campaign. Tomas E. Gaston for NY Post
Mamdani and President Trump had a jovial meeting in the Oval Office on Friday — unlike what anybody expected. Yuri Gripas – Pool via CNP
“I think the responsibility I have as the mayor of this city is to work with anyone who can help to alleviate the affordability crisis and deliver dignity to each and every person that calls the city home,” Mamdani said.
He and Trump talked about housing, public transit, childcare and zoning laws, the democratic socialist added.
“At the heart of it, again and again, came back to the recognition that what New Yorkers are desperate for, no matter at what level of politics they’re thinking about, is some relief from a cost of living crisis,” he said.
“I think it was New Yorkers that won in this conversation.”
Nevertheless, some who spoke alongside Mamdani at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church felt the meeting was a big loss for Trump.
“The president is scared of him,” said congressional hopeful Michael Blake.