Mamdani Slams Iran Bombardments as ‘Unlawful’ Following White House Meeting
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wasted no time in condemning the recent airstrikes on Iran, calling them “unlawful” and “a catastrophic escalation.” This statement came just two days after he had a friendly meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
In a detailed statement released shortly after the U.S. and Israel initiated their bombardment of Tehran and other locations, Mamdani expressed his strong opposition. The strikes reportedly resulted in hundreds of casualties, including the death of Iran's supreme leader, according to state media reports. This military action has raised alarms about potential retaliatory measures against U.S. and Israeli interests, with Trump indicating that the strikes would persist for an extended period.
“Today’s military strikes on Iran — executed by the United States and Israel — signify a catastrophic escalation in an unlawful war of aggression,” Mamdani articulated on social media platform X. “Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this.”
In light of the escalating tensions, Mamdani announced an increase in police presence throughout the city, citing an “abundance of caution.” He reached out specifically to Iranian-Americans residing in New York, assuring them of their safety: “You are part of the fabric of this city…You will be safe here.”
Mamdani’s swift condemnation of Trump’s military actions was notably more forceful than that of many prominent Democrats, occurring just 48 hours after their latest White House encounter.
The mayor characterized their meeting as “productive,” sharing a photograph of himself alongside Trump in the Oval Office, where the president was seen smiling and holding mock newspapers that highlighted his support for new housing initiatives.
In a follow-up statement to a media outlet, Mamdani addressed the contrast between his amicable demeanor during their meeting and his subsequent public criticism. “In my relationship with the president, it has always been one that is honest and direct, where both of us make clear our policy disagreements, both in public and in private,” he explained. “It’s crucial to be on the record here, given the scale of the consequences we are discussing.”
During a press conference yesterday, Mamdani defended his recent meeting with Trump, stating: “As the mayor of our city, I will always strive to maintain an open line of communication with the president of our country.”
Prior to his election in November, Mamdani and Trump had exchanged sharp criticisms; Mamdani referred to Trump as a “fascist” and “despot,” while Trump labeled him a “100% communist lunatic.” However, their first White House meeting on November 21 surprised many observers with its unexpectedly cordial atmosphere.
“I think you're going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor — the better he does, the happier I am,” Trump remarked during that meeting while seated next to Mamdani.
During last week’s State of the Union address, Trump reiterated his personal fondness for Mamdani despite their policy differences. “I think he's a nice guy. I actually speak to him a lot — bad policy, but nice guy,” he told the audience in the House chamber, even suggesting that Mamdani was hypocritical for opposing voter ID laws.
The airstrikes on Iran were not the only issue prompting Mamdani's pushback. On Thursday, he revealed that he had contacted Trump regarding the arrest of a Columbia University student by federal agents. He stated that Trump assured him the student, Elmina Aghayeva, would be “released imminently.”
