New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani said he used a recent meeting with President Donald Trump to raise concerns about U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and to highlight the domestic cost of U.S. foreign policy.
Speaking to reporters, Mamdani said he told Trump that “many New Yorkers are deeply worried about their tax dollars funding what they see as human rights violations abroad,” including what he has previously described as the Israeli government “committing genocide” in besieged Gaza.
He emphasized that both his supporters in New York and many of Trump’s supporters share a desire to “stop U.S. taxpayers’ money from funding human rights violations.”
“I’ve spoken about the Israeli government committing genocide, and I’ve spoken about our government funding it,” Mamdani said. “I shared with President Trump the concern that many New Yorkers have about wanting their tax dollars to go toward improving New Yorkers’ ability to afford basic dignity.”
Mamdani pointed to ongoing social and economic challenges in New York City. “We’re in our ninth consecutive year with more than 100,000 schoolchildren experiencing homelessness,” he said. “There is a desperate need not only to uphold human rights but also to follow through on promises made to New Yorkers.”
The assembly member said he appreciated the meeting with Trump and expressed hope for continued work on issues affecting city residents.
When asked by a journalist about his broader message on peace, Mamdani said he told Trump that voters across New York regardless of political affiliation are increasingly frustrated by federal spending on overseas conflicts.
The meeting marked a notable shift in tone after months of harsh public exchanges.
Trump had previously labelled Mamdani a "100 percent Communist Lunatic" and a "total nut job," while Mamdani had called Trump's administration "authoritarian" and described himself as "Donald Trump's worst nightmare."
But on Friday the two emphasised shared priorities, including affordability, rising living costs, groceries and utilities — issues central to both of their campaigns.
"I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually," Trump said, adding that "some of his ideas are the same ideas I have," though he did not elaborate beyond referring to "groceries, an old-fashioned word."
Trump said he and Mamdani also discussed crime in New York.
"He doesn't want to see crime and I don’t want to see crime. And I have very little doubt that we’re not going to get along on that issue."
Acknowledging political differences, he added: "We will discuss it."
