New Yorkers praise Zohran Mamdani’s charm offensive on Trump, say they remain cautiously optimistic
CNN New Yorkers know better than to be overly positive A day after Zohran Mamdani got a surprisingly warm reception at the White House from President Donald Trump who has spent the last meager months deriding the New York City mayor-elect as a lunatic and falsely labeling him a communist New Yorkers communicated CNN they were cautiously optimistic and slightly impressed I really don t like the guy but I m glad that he was able to go in there and do a good job with the president John Lani reported CNN Saturday following a mid-morning run in Central Park Maybe we ll get selected funding we won t shut down congestion pricing Maybe we ll get specific stuff for the subway we ll see what it does for the state Mamdani a -year-old democratic socialist who previously served three terms in the New York State Assembly cruised to conquest earlier this month winning every borough in the city except for Staten Island a known Republican enclave Near Central Park along the bustle of one of Manhattan s greater part congested intersections New Yorkers praised Mamdani s handling of his televised press engagement with the president even if they remain skeptical about how he will ultimately perform once he takes office on January Voter details analysis published by The Center for Urban Research at CUNY s Graduate Center shows the area near Central Park home to Columbus Circle and the Trump International Hotel favored former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo who ran against Mamdani as an independent I hope everyone s very flourishing I didn t promotion either party announced a voter who did not want to share their name Meeting could prove to have high stakes Trump and Mamdani s relationship will prove pivotal for several key issues in New York City There is the question of whether Trump will ramp up immigration enforcement and deploy federal forces like he has in several other blue cities There are major infrastructure projects that depend on federal funding and the vast majority of Mamdani s proposals like making city buses fast and free providing free universal childcare and raising taxes on the wealthy will depend on funding from the state which is also dependent on federal funds After watching news coverage of the meeting Sherry and Steve Cohen who live in Manhattan disclosed they needed to give Mamdani a chance I d like to think that Mamdani is being smart enough to play Trump and praise the man because he necessities things for New York Steve Cohen disclosed Unfortunately this is what you have to do You have to bow down praise him and walk out and wash your hands after Trump who grew up in Queens and made his name and fortune in Manhattan remains focused on New York City despite his lack of popularity there Trump who conceded Friday he would have loved to be mayor of his hometown struck an agreeable tone saying he demanded to help the city instead of hurt it Already there were signs that Mamdani s approach might be working at least for now Trump suggested Saturday New York City is not a priority for deploying National Guard troops Right now other places need it more Trump advised reporters We had a very good meeting the day before We talked about that but if they need it I would do it Shelly Payson who is supportive of Mamdani reported she thought Mamdani had a strategy going into the meeting that worked I think that Trump continues to be the most of transactional president we ve ever had and if people are smart they find a way to give him something which may be meaningless but it s crucial to him and then he loves you and rolls out the red carpet Payson mentioned CNN s Kit Maher contributed to this assessment The-CNN-Wire Cable News System Inc a Warner Bros Discovery Company All rights reserved Source
