On Sunday, Trump indicated that he intends to meet with New York's controversial mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and they'll "work something out," in what could be a detente for the Republican president and Democratic socialist, harsh critics of one another.
Trump has unabashedly called Mamdani a communist and has predicted he will ruin the president’s hometown.
Meanwhile Mamdani has plans for "Trump-proofing” New York once he takes office in January.
Gary Bauer is chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, who has served on the board of Christians United for Israel.
"(Trump) is the president of the United States. So, offering an opportunity for the mayor-elect to sit down with him and discuss issues, that’s all upside for President Trump. In any such meeting Donald Trump will hold all the cards, and the mayor of New York will be in the position of having to say something to stay on the president's good side because the president could have a big impact on the flow of federal funds to New York City."
Bauer says Trump should insist on something else from Mamdani.
"I want direct assurances that you will keep the Jewish citizens of New York City safe because you have been aligned with forces that are antisemite,” Bauer said.
Mamdani helped start a Students for Justice in Palestine, a pro-Palestinian student activism network, while a student at Bowdoin College.
He also encouraged Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as an anti-Israel strategy.
That background led him to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), he told a group in 2021 while serving as a New York State assemblyman, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Trump needs to press Mamdani on safeguards for New York’s Jewish citizens, Bauer said.
“I'm the president of the United States. I'm not going to stand for it. So, what kind of assurances can you give me? I don't see anything that can come out of this meeting that is good for the Marxist newly elected mayor of New York City.”
