Trump's three tips to Mamdani as NYC mayor marks 100 days in office: 'Make it sparkle'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, has received some tips from the President of the United States on how to improve his administration as he marks 100 days running NYC.
Offering three suggestions for how Mamdani can improve the city, President Donald Trump said he wants the mayor to make the Big Apple "sparkle."
Although Zohran built his image as a firebrand leader who was never hesitant to challenge Trump in his speeches when he campaigned for mayor, Trump and Mamdani have maintained cordial relations since their November meeting in the Oval Office.
Trump advises Mamdani to ‘lower taxes’
When asked to review the performance of socialist mayor Mamdani, Trump told the New York Post, “Gotta lower taxes or everyone’s leaving. It’s very simple.” The two reportedly exchanged text messages regularly.
Underscoring that the city is littered and unmaintained, Trump said, “Got to clean up the city. The city is looking not good. You got to clean up Manhattan, clean it up, make it sparkle, number one, and you got to lower taxes, or everyone’s leaving.”
Mamdani, who often calls Trump a "fascist," has sought to partner with the president on shared priorities such as building more houses.
Mamdani and Trump met privately on February 27, when Mamdani proposed building 12,000 housing units and a deck over rail tracks in Sunnyside, Queens, using a $21 billion federal grant.
The mayor’s spokesperson had said that Trump was excited about the pitch and gave a positive response.
Trump, Mamdani shared odd terms before their November meeting
Trump and Mamdani had been on uneasy terms before their November meeting, as Mamdani continuously challenged Trump in the days leading up to the mayoral elections, and Trump called him a ‘communist’ and supported his longtime political foe, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was running as an independent.
Trump extended a warm welcome to Mamdani at the Oval Office last November.
Their meeting would remain memorable for years to come, as during the joint press conference, when a reporter asked Mamdani if he still considered Trump a "fascist," the president stepped in.
“That’s OK, you can just say yes,”
In the historic mayoral polls, Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on November 4, 2025. Mamdani, a Democrat and the city's first Muslim mayor, assumed office on January 1, 2026. He is also the youngest mayor since 1892.
