The Democrat Zohran Mamdanielected mayor of New York, affirmed this Wednesday that he is ready to talk with President Donald Trump about “the cost of living”, an issue that both put as the main banner of their campaigns.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old self-described “socialist” politician, was elected on Tuesday and will become New York’s first Muslim mayor when he takes office on January 1.
Trump reiterated this Wednesday his criticism against Mamdani and considered that the United States faces a choice between “communism and common sense.” “We will take care of it,” the president launched before businessmen.
“The White House hasn’t called me to congratulate me,” Mamdani joked during a news conference.
“But I’m still interested in talking to President Trump,” he said, referring to the “campaign promises on the cost of living,” which earned the White House tenant the support of a large portion of modest-income families.
“I think the lesson for the president is that it is not enough to diagnose the crisis that the working class is experiencing. You have to address that crisis,” he added.
Mamdani, like Trump, put the high cost of living, the impact of inflation and high food expenses at the center of his campaign. He prevailed over the former mayor Andrew Cuomo, backed by the Republican president.
In his campaign, Mamdani also promised better rent controls and free buses and daycare. “What scares Republicans across the country is that we are actually going to implement this program,” he said.
The elected mayor also appointed five women to lead the transition until he takes office.
Among them Lina Khan, who was head of the consumer protection agency (FTC) during the Joe Biden government and New York NGO leaders Grace Bonilla and Melanie Hartzog.
