FULL REMARKS: Trump, Mamdani promise to work to help New York City

Key Concepts

• Affordability Crisis: A central theme, referring to the struggle of New Yorkers to afford basic necessities like rent, groceries, and utilities in the city.
• Cost of Living: Directly linked to the affordability crisis, encompassing the expenses associated with daily life.
• Housing Construction: A proposed solution to address affordability and rent prices, with both President Trump and Mayor-elect Adams expressing a desire to see more housing built.
• Public Safety/Crime Reduction: A shared priority between President Trump and Mayor-elect Adams, with a commitment to working together to remove criminals and ensure safe streets.
• Middle East Peace: Discussed in the context of President Trump's past peace deals and the ongoing conflict in the region.
• Economic Policy: Mentions of inflation reduction, oil prices, and the impact of economic conditions on New Yorkers.
• Political Ideology: References to socialism, fascism, and differing political viewpoints between President Trump and Mayor-elect Adams.
• Federal-City Cooperation: The overarching narrative of President Trump expressing a willingness to help Mayor-elect Adams succeed in making New York City great again.

Meeting Between President Trump and Mayor-Elect Adams

This summary details a meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Eric Adams, focusing on their shared priorities for New York City and their differing perspectives on certain issues. The discussion highlights a surprising level of agreement on key areas, particularly concerning the affordability crisis and public safety.

Shared Priorities: Affordability and Cost of Living

Both President Trump and Mayor-elect Adams emphasized the critical issue of affordability for New Yorkers.

• President Trump stated that anything he does to lower prices would be "good for New York." He cited Walmart's report that Thanksgiving this year was "exactly 25% less than last year" as a positive indicator of falling prices. He also mentioned that oil prices are "coming way down."
• Mayor-elect Adams echoed these concerns, stating the meeting was "focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City, and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers." He specifically mentioned discussions about rent, groceries, and utilities, and the ways people are being "pushed out" of the city due to high costs. He noted that one in four New Yorkers are living in poverty and that the meeting focused on lifting them out of struggle.
• Con Edison Rates: Mayor-elect Adams specifically pointed out that while fuel prices have decreased, this hasn't reflected in Con Edison rates. He expressed the need to "talk to them" and get them to lower rates, especially since fuel is being supplied at a much lower price than a year ago.

Public Safety and Crime Reduction

Public safety was identified as another significant area of agreement.

• President Trump stated, "If it's not safe, no matter how well we do with pricing and with uh anything else, we can talk about anything you want. If you don't have safe streets, it's not going to be a success." He expressed a desire to "get them out" if there are "horrible people there."
• Mayor-elect Adams agreed, stating, "Ultimately, a safe New York is going to be a great New York." He indicated that he wants to "get them out" perhaps "more than I do" and that they would "work together."
• ICE Agents: A point of contention was raised regarding ICE agents. Mayor-elect Adams referred to ICE as a "rogue government entity," while President Trump's administration has a different stance. However, they agreed to "work them out" and that the ultimate goal is to remove "known murderers and known drug dealers and some very bad people." They discussed crime "more than ICE per se."
• NYPD Staffing: Regarding police officers, Mayor-elect Adams committed to maintaining the budgeted headcount of approximately 35,000 officers, emphasizing that they need to focus on serious crime and not be tasked with responding to mental health calls. He also mentioned retaining a "great police commissioner."

Housing Construction

Both leaders expressed a desire to increase housing construction as a means to address affordability.

• President Trump noted that Mayor-elect Adams "wants to see houses go up. He wants to see a lot of houses created and a lot of apartments built etc."
• Mayor-elect Adams agreed, stating, "I want to see the same thing." He believes building more housing is the "ultimate way" to bring rents down.

Political Ideology and Past Disagreements

Despite the areas of agreement, past political rhetoric and ideological differences were addressed.

• President Trump's Past Comments: When asked about referring to Mayor-elect Adams as a "communist," President Trump stated that Adams has "views a little out there, but who knows?" He also suggested that Adams might "change also" and that he himself has changed a lot since first coming to office. He expressed confidence that Adams can do a "very good job" and "surprise some conservative people actually and some very liberal people."
• Mayor-elect Adams' Past Comments: When questioned about his previous remarks calling President Trump a "despot" and accusing him of a "fascist agenda," Mayor-elect Adams stated that both he and President Trump are "very clear about our positions and our views." He appreciated that the meeting focused on "shared purpose" rather than "places of disagreement." He also humorously noted, "I've been called much worse than a despot. So it's not that insulting." When directly asked if he affirmed President Trump is a fascist, he responded, "I've spoken about That's okay. You could just say yes. Okay. It's easier."
• Socialism: Mayor-elect Adams identified himself as a "democratic socialist" and acknowledged potential ideological differences but reiterated the focus on shared work for New York City's affordability. He also noted that a House resolution condemning socialism passed with significant Democratic support, despite his endorsement of President Trump.

Middle East Peace and Foreign Policy

The discussion briefly touched upon foreign policy and the Middle East.

• President Trump claimed to have "peace in the Middle East" and mentioned a "trillion dollars" contribution from the King of Saudi Arabia. He also stated that Hezbollah has been a "big problem in Lebanon" and that they are "working with everybody in the Middle East" for peace.
• Mayor-elect Adams connected President Trump's peace efforts to his own campaign message, stating that voters wanted "an end to forever wars" and an end to taxpayer dollars funding human rights violations.
• Ukraine War: President Trump expressed regret over the war in Ukraine, stating it "should have never happened" and would not have if he were president. He mentioned having a plan for peace but that it requires Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's approval. He cited significant casualties, stating "last month they lost 25,000 soldiers."

Other Topics Discussed

• Property Taxes: Mayor-elect Adams clarified that his campaign discussion about shifting the tax burden was a "description of neighborhoods, not a description of intent," and that he intends to create a "fair property tax system."
• International Law: Mayor-elect Adams expressed a desire for "consistency in our politics across the board" and to follow "laws that protect New Yorkers."
• Transportation: When asked why he flew to the meeting, Mayor-elect Adams stated he uses "every form of transit" and wants to ensure they are all affordable, highlighting "making buses fast and free" as a centerpiece. President Trump humorously noted the speed advantage of flying.
• Swastika Symbol Report: President Trump stated he was unaware of a report claiming the Coast Guard would no longer characterize swastika uses as hate symbols.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The meeting was characterized by a surprising degree of cooperation and a shared commitment to improving New York City.

• President Trump expressed his belief that Mayor-elect Adams has a "chance to do a great job" and that he will be "helping him." He stated, "I don't care about affiliations or parties or anything else. I want to see if this city could be unbelievable. If he could be a spectacular success, I'd be very happy." He also expressed comfort living in New York under an Adams administration, especially after the meeting.
• Mayor-elect Adams appreciated the meeting and the focus on shared purpose. He stated, "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought." He believes they will "meet again in the future" and that the collaboration is "for the good of New York."
• The press's significant interest in this meeting was noted, with President Trump suggesting it's because Mayor-elect Adams is "different" and has a "chance to really do something great for New York." He also highlighted Adams' unexpected rise in the primaries.
• Mayor-elect Adams also appreciated a portrait of FDR and the concept of the New Deal, seeing it as an example of transformative federal-city cooperation.

Overall, the meeting presented a narrative of pragmatic collaboration between two prominent political figures, with a strong emphasis on addressing the immediate needs of New Yorkers, particularly concerning affordability and safety.