NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former President Barack Obama had their first face-to-face meeting on Saturday – even as Hizzoner tries to maintain a working relationship with President Donald Trump.
The sit-down between the socialist pol and Obama took place at an undisclosed childcare center, where they greeted local families after a private conversation, POLITICO first reported.
Mamdani’s public schedule failed to note he was meeting Obama and instead listed only that he planned to greet “children and parents” at 3:30 pm at an “early childhood education center.”
Only invited press was permitted to attend, with local network ABC 7 selected to provide pooled footage later, according to the mayor’s schedule.
Social media posts later revealed the event was in The Bronx, with one showing Mamdani and Obama sitting in a classroom reading to children. The Post was not included in the event.
Reps for Mamdani and Obama didn’t immediately return messages.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) said City Hall’s selective release of information is “right out of the communist dictator playbook.”
“A mayor should be welcoming coverage by the free press when doing something as big as meeting with a former president,” she said. “Instead, we’re seeing access restricted so that the party’s message is amplified and opposing voices are removed from the conversation.
“This is a slap in the face to journalists everywhere and sends a clear message: spread Dear Leader’s propaganda, or you don’t get a seat at Mamdani’s table.”
Mamdani’s aides worked for months to set up the meeting, making scheduling it sooner rather than later a key priority over the past few weeks, sources told POLITICO.
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Obama didn’t endorse Mamdani in last year’s mayoral race, but he reportedly called him shortly before Election Day, complimenting him for running an “impressive” campaign and offering to be a “sounding board” if he won.
Mamdani and Trump have maintained a surprisingly cordial relationship despite being miles away politically.
It’s unclear how Mamdani’s sit-down with Obama will affect that, considering Trump has called Obama a “terrible” president and the two have long had a cold relationship.
