NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said Monday that he hopes to meet with President Donald Trump to find ways the political polar opposites can work together on the central focus of his winning campaign: affordability.
At an appearance at a food pantry in the Bronx, the Democrat confirmed that his team had reached out to the White House to set up a possible sit-down.
Trump told reporters Sunday night that he planned meet with Mamdani, saying ” we’ll work something out ” as he prepared to fly back to Washington after spending the weekend in Florida.
Mamdani said the overture reflected his commitment to meet with anyone who could help address the city's most pressing needs, including controlling soaring costs.
“The president ran a campaign where he spoke about a promise to deliver cheaper groceries, a promise to reduce the cost of living," the mayor-elect said after visiting Part of the Solution, or POTS. “We are seeing his actions and that of his administration in Washington leading to the exact opposite effect for New Yorkers.”
Mamdani also criticized Trump's efforts to cut funding to the food aid program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, during the federal government shutdown.
He vowed to “protect” New Yorkers from a “federal administration that would rather starve the people of this city, than serve the people of this city.”
The potential face-to-face could represent a detente for the Republican president and Democratic political star, who have cast each other as political foils.
Trump has for months slammed Mamdani, falsely labeling him as a “communist” and predicting the ruin of his hometown if the democratic socialist was elected.
He also threatened to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized American citizen in 2018, and to pull federal money from the city.
Trump has spoken more about affordability following the November election, when Republicans lost badly in Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. But he and Republicans insist the economy has never been stronger.
In a social media post Friday, Trump even declared the GOP is the "Party of Affordability!”
Meanwhile Mamdani has risen from an obscure state lawmaker representing Queens to a symbol of the resistance against Trump in just a few short months.
The 34-year-old upset former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary then trounced him and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the general election.
During his victory speech earlier this month, Mamdani said he wanted New York to show the country how to defeat the president.
He's also talked about “Trump-proofing” New York once he takes office in January while also promising to work with anyone, including the president, if it benefited New Yorkers.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach Fla., on his way back to the White House, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani departs El Hotel Caribe Hilton after attending the SOMOS Puerto Rico conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo developed a reputation for making rapid returns from injury during his rise to superstardom, but the Milwaukee Bucks forward acknowledges those days may be drawing to a close.
Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds Monday night in Milwaukee’s 108-81 loss to the Boston Celtics, his first action since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 29 games this season, 23 of those with calf injuries.
That's a new experience for Antetokounmpo, who had grown accustomed to returning earlier than expected from injuries.
“I’ve just got to be smarter moving forward, because things that I was able to do in the past maybe I’m not able to do now,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve just got to be more methodical with my rehab.”
During Milwaukee's 2021 playoff run, Antetokounmpo missed just two games with a hyperextended left knee and went on to earn NBA Finals MVP honors while leading the Bucks to their first championship in half a century. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the series-ending Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
This season has proved more frustrating.
“I’m not old, but I’m older, for sure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m not 24 years old anymore. I’m 31.”
Antetokounmpo missed eight games with a right calf strain in December, came back and then strained his calf again. Calf issues also caused him to miss Milwaukee's 2024 first-round playoff loss to Indiana.
“When you’re dealing with soft-tissue issues, it’s hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve dealt with knee pain in the past. It’s totally different. If you're not able to take care of your soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that’s what happened this year. I feel like I've been playing the whole year with a deficit.”
The same could be said for Antetokounmpo's team.
Milwaukee is 15-16 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him as the Bucks are facing increasingly long odds in their bid for a 10th straight playoff berth.
The Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, 3 1/2 games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish seventh through 10th compete in a tournament for the East’s two final playoff spots.
Milwaukee went 8-2 without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but has lost its last three games by a combined 79 points. Bucks coach Doc Rivers altered his rotation Monday by giving Ousmane Dieng his second start of the season and not playing Kyle Kuzma.
Forward Bobby Portis referred to Milwaukee's 8-2 stretch as “fool's gold,” pointing out that many of those wins came against teams with losing records.
“Obviously a lot of ground we have to cover to get into a play-in situation, a playoff situation,” Portis said. “New waters for us, new uncharted waters for us. Really not used to being in this situation, but I just think … staying together is big. So many ways different guys can go. You can start thinking about yourself. You can start thinking about summer, whatever it is.”
The Bucks will try to make their push amid speculation about Antetokounmpo's future.
In October, Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million. He otherwise could become a free agent at the end of next season.
Although Antetokounmpo repeatedly has discussed how much he loves playing in Milwaukee, he also has prioritized wanting to play on a team that’s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons.
Now they'll have their hands full getting to the postseason at all. In the meantime, Antetokounmpo will have his minutes restricted while he works toward full health and gets accustomed to playing with Dieng and Cam Thomas.
“I’m just happy that I’m on the court,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there. I’m just in a mindset where I try not to take nothing for granted.”
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Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
