Trump Makes Surprising U-Turn On Plans To Deploy National Guard To New York City

President Donald Trump appears to have walked back his earlier suggestion that he might send National Guard troops into New York City. While speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, he was asked whether he still intended to use federal troops in his home state—a move that had drawn heavy criticism after similar deployments to cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, where National Guard intervention led to violent confrontations and harsh arrests.

Trump softened his stance, saying he would only move forward if New York requested assistance. “If they need it, I’ll send troops,” he said. “Right now, other places need it more, but if they need it. We had a very good meeting yesterday.” He reiterated that he and city leaders had discussed the issue, but framed any deployment as conditional.

The “very good meeting” he referenced was his Friday sit-down with New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The two men had spent months attacking each other publicly—often through interviews and social media—before finally meeting face-to-face. Their clashes escalated during the mayoral race, particularly after Trump threatened to cut off federal funding to New York if Mamdani won.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, ultimately defeated both former governor Andrew Cuomo—whom Trump had endorsed—and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa earlier this month.

Despite their rocky history, the White House meeting was unexpectedly warm. Still, Mamdani did not walk back his previous characterization of Trump as a fascist. When a reporter asked during the meeting whether he still held that view, Trump jumped in before Mamdani could speak, saying, “That’s OK, you can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it, I don’t mind.” Mamdani laughed and replied, “OK, yes,” as Trump tapped him amicably on the arm.

The mayor-elect reaffirmed that stance again on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, saying he has not changed his opinion. “That’s something I’ve said in the past. I say it today,” Mamdani insisted. But he also emphasized that their conversation at the White House did not shy away from disagreements and that both men focused on areas where they might cooperate—particularly around New York’s worsening affordability crisis.

Source: HUFFPOST