Obama meets New York Mayor Mamdani for first time amid Trump tensions
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New York: Former US President Barack Obama held his first meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, April 18, at a childcare centre. The pair read the book Alone and Together to preschoolers and led a singalong of "The Wheels on the Bus", declining to take questions afterwards.
The encounter occurred just over a week after Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, marked 100 days in office. He assumed the role in January following a campaign focused on making the city more affordable, particularly by redirecting government resources to support the struggling working class.
Obama, a two-term Democratic standard-bearer, has offered to serve as a sounding board for Mamdani, whose youth, star power and progressive agenda have elevated his profile in party politics.
The meeting follows Mamdani's two prior sessions with Republican President Donald Trump at the White House in November and February, aimed at addressing city issues. Yet relations have soured, with Trump posting on Truth Social on Thursday that Mamdani was "DESTROYING New York" through his taxing policies and threatening to withhold federal funding.
(Inputs from AP)
