NYC mayor-elect Mamdani urges Trump to redirect war funds to city

In a notable White House meeting, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani pressed President Donald Trump to shift federal tax dollars from international military engagements to urgent domestic priorities. The newly elected progressive leader emphasized that many New Yorkers, including those who voted for Trump, want resources focused on solving the city's affordability crisis rather than funding foreign conflicts.

A Message from Trump Voters

Mamdani recounted his campaign conversations with Trump supporters on streets like Hillside Avenue and Fordham Road, revealing two primary concerns he heard repeatedly. "They wanted an end to forever wars... and they wanted to address the cost-of-living crisis," the mayor-elect told reporters after the Oval Office meeting. He described encountering a Queens pharmacist and other constituents who expressed exhaustion with seeing their tax dollars fund overseas military operations.

Connecting International and Domestic Spending

The discussion extended to specific international concerns, with Mamdani reiterating his previous characterization of Israeli actions in Gaza. "I've spoken about the Israeli government committing genocide, and I've spoken about our government funding it," he stated. He argued that many New Yorkers prefer their tax contributions to "go towards the benefit of New Yorkers and their ability to afford basic dignity" rather than international military support.

Focus on New York's Social Challenges

Highlighting severe local issues, Mamdani pointed to New York's "ninth consecutive year of more than 100,000 school children being homeless" as evidence of desperate need for redirected funding. The mayor-elect said his conversation with Trump covered pressing concerns like rent, grocery prices, and utility costs that are "pushing people out" of the city, framing these as matters requiring federal attention and resources.