Former U.S. President Barack Obama met New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday in New York, marking their first in-person meeting just days after President Donald Trump sharply criticized the mayor’s policies.
The meeting took place at a childcare center, where the two leaders read the children’s book “Alone and Together” and led a sing-along of “The Wheels on the Bus.” Neither Obama nor Mamdani took questions from the press following the event.
The encounter comes shortly after Trump publicly attacked the NYC mayor’s tax proposals, accusing him of harming the city’s economy.
In a post on Truth Social earlier this week, Trump said Mamdani was “destroying New York ” with his policies and threatened to withdraw federal funding from the city.
“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is destroying New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote. “It will only get worse. The tax, tax, tax policies are so wrong. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, and fast. History has proven, this “stuff” just doesn’t work.”
Zohran Mamdani reacts after Trump says he is ‘destroying’ NYC
The proposed pied-à-terre tax — introduced on Wednesday — would affect wealthy residents who own secondary properties in New York City valued over $5 million but live elsewhere.
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The tax would directly affect billionaires such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Citadel’s Ken Griffin, and Trump. In a press release, the New York City Mayor’s Office said the tax is expected to generate $500 million in annual revenue, helping close the city’s budget gap.
“The measure targets ultrawealthy out-of-city residents and global elites who use New York City real estate as a vehicle for wealth storage rather than as homes,” a press release said.
On Friday, the New York City mayor acknowledged Trump’s remarks about him and the tax during a press conference, saying he wasn’t surprised by the criticism.
“The thing we have in common is that we are both New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, adding that he was not worried about the president’s remarks.
Despite earlier meetings between Mamdani and Trump at the White House in November and February, recent exchanges suggest a growing strain in their relationship.
Obama, a two-term president and a central figure in the Democratic Party, has previously offered to serve as a “sounding board” for Mamdani.
Their relationship dates back to a phone call in November, shortly before Election Day, when Obama praised Mamdani’s campaign and discussed the possibility of meeting in person.
The Saturday meeting follows weeks of behind-the-scenes efforts by Mamdani’s aides to arrange a sit-down, with the mayor seeking to build momentum after marking 100 days in office on April 10.
Balancing relationships in Washington
Political observers say the engagement could help Mamdani navigate both governance challenges and party dynamics.
A Democratic congressional aide familiar with the situation said the mayor could benefit from Obama’s experience in uniting different factions within the party.
The meeting also comes as Mamdani attempts to manage relationships across the political spectrum. While he has held what he described as “productive” discussions with President Trump, tensions have increased following policy disagreements, particularly over taxation and federal funding.
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At the same time, Obama’s involvement may provide Mamdani with stronger ties to more moderate elements within the Democratic Party, some of whom had initially been cautious about his progressive platform.
Mamdani took office in January after campaigning on making New York City more affordable, with a focus on supporting working-class residents.
The 34-year-old’s policy proposals, including a tax on high-value secondary residences, have drawn criticism from some quarters, including Trump.
Obama, meanwhile, has had a long and often contentious relationship with Trump, dating back to disputes during Obama’s presidency.
Despite those tensions, Trump said last year that the two “probably” like each other after they were seen speaking at a public event.
