Trump backs off National Guard deployment to NYC after Mamdani meeting, says only ‘if they need it’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Saturday, November 22, that New York City is no longer at the top of his list for a National Guard deployment, softening earlier threats to send troops into the city to combat crime.

“If they need it. Right now, other places need it more,” Trump told reporters. “We had a very good meeting yesterday … but if they need it, I would do it.”

The shift comes just one day after Trump sat down with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who will lead New York City.

Unlikely warmth between Trump and Zohran Mamdani

Expectations for a tense meeting evaporated quickly on Friday as Trump and Mamdani appeared friendly and engaged, despite months of trading insults.

Speaking to reporters after the discussion, Trump said that he was “surprised” by how much common ground he shared with the incoming mayor, especially on core urban concerns.

“We had a meeting today that actually surprised me. He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down. All things that I agree with," Trump said.

Trump also took aim at media narratives portraying hostility between the two, saying his focus was on the city’s welfare, not political fights. He added that while they may differ on the approach, their goals were aligned.

“One of the things I really gleaned very, very much today- he’d like to see them come down ideally by building a lot of additional housing. That’s the ultimate way… He agrees with that and so do I,” he stated.

Trump had previously called Mamdani “my little communist,” while Mamdani had once labeled the president a "fascist," a remark Trump laughed off during his talks with reporters.

“If I read the newspapers and the stories, I don’t hear that. But I heard him say it today and I think that’s a very positive step… I expect to be helping him, not hurting him. I want New York City to be great. I love New York City. It’s where I come from,” the president added.

The president said that he would feel “very comfortable” living again in his hometown under Mamdani’s leadership.

“He doesn’t want to see crime, and I don’t want to see crime,” Trump said. "I have very little doubt that we’re not going to get along on that issue."

Other cities are now the focus of Trump’s security strategy

While New York may get a reprieve for now, the Trump administration has intensified operations elsewhere.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is reportedly the latest city to face a federal law enforcement surge, with ICE, Border Patrol and National Guard units dispatched this week to crack down on illegal immigration and crime.

Trump’s expanded use of military forces in domestic law enforcement has drawn heavy criticism and a wave of legal challenges from Democrats and civil liberties groups.