New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently described his relationship with President Donald Trump as honest, direct, and productive. He said this during an interview with NBC, marking his first 100 days in office, just one day before Trump went on social media to criticize his latest policy proposal.
The proposal in question is a pied-a-terre tax on properties in New York City valued at over $5 million, targeting owners who do not primarily live in the city. Mamdani has been pushing for this alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, saying it could raise $500 million for the city. He plans to use those funds for priorities like expanding free child care.
Trump posted on Truth Social that Mayor Mamdani is “destroying New York,” claiming the city has “no chance” and that the country should not contribute to its failure. Trump said such tax policies are fundamentally wrong and lead to people leaving the city, warning things will only get worse.
Mamdani and Trump have a surprisingly direct relationship, and it has already produced real results
Despite the criticism, Mamdani stayed focused. When asked about Trump’s, he said both he and the president want the city to succeed, calling the tax a necessary step toward that. “A pied-a-terre tax has been fought for over a long period but hasn’t been possible to finalize until now,” he said, expressing excitement about working with the governor to move it forward.
The two have actually met in the Oval Office at least twice since Mamdani was elected last November. Mamdani explained that they share a bond because both are from New York City, and that Trump has a genuine interest in the city, leading to detailed conversations about issues like zoning law changes in midtown Manhattan, reports People.
Mamdani’s surprising White House visit that left him stunned showed just how unconventional this political relationship has been from the start. This relationship has led to concrete outcomes. Mamdani shared an example involving Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by the Department of Homeland Security in February.
During a meeting, the mayor gave Trump a list of individuals detained in or around the university. “About 30 minutes after that meeting, the president called to inform him that he had made the decision to release the student,” Mamdani said.
On the policy front, Mamdani has been working on several campaign promises. In March, he launched a universal child care program for up to 2,000 two-year-olds, with plans to expand it to every two-year-old in the five boroughs by the end of his first term. He is also moving forward with plans to open city-run grocery stores to provide cheaper staples like bread and eggs, noting that rising costs have been especially high in New York City.
The mayor is also dealing with a $5.4 billion budget deficit, which has slowed his goal of making public buses free; currently, only one route is free. He dismissed concerns about delivering on his promises, saying New Yorkers are “tired of politicians talking about other politicians,” and that he prefers focusing on local issues like potholes.
His tenure has not been without controversy, however, as Mamdani blaming Trump’s policies for the ICE shooting incident drew significant national attention earlier in his term. This current tension is a notable shift from late last year, when Trump told reporters after a White House meeting in November that he would be “comfortable” living in New York City under Mamdani’s administration
Even after Mamdani called Trump a despot in his victory speech, Trump laughed it off when asked about it. While they disagree on specific policies, their lines of communication remain open.
Published: Apr 20, 2026 11:10 am