- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is scheduled for a second face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, despite Trump having attacked him during his State of the Union speech earlier in the week.
- The unscheduled visit follows Trump's recent criticism of Mamdani, whom he called “the new communist mayor of New York City” while discussing a voter identification bill. “I think he's a nice guy. I actually speak to him a lot — bad policy, but nice guy,” Trump added.
- Trump, a native New Yorker, previously hosted Mamdani in November shortly after his election, where he unexpectedly praised the then-mayor-elect and pledged support for New York.
- During their initial meeting, described as a “love-fest,” Trump dismissed his prior “communist” attacks and defended Mamdani when reporters questioned the mayor-elect about his past criticisms of Trump as a ”despot” and “fascist.”
- The White House did not immediately comment on the timing or substance of the planned meeting, which was not on Trump's public schedule.
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