Zohran Mamdani: ‘I believe in’ democratic socialism ‘even more than I did’ before election

[0:00] You made sweeping promises on the campaign trail. I'll name a few. Freezing the rent, free and fast buses, universal child care. Here we are 100 days in to your tenure as mayor. Are you still confident you can deliver on all of your promises that you made to New Yorkers? [0:18] Yes, I am. And I'm confident of that because of what we've seen over this 100 days. On day eight, we announced a $1.2 billion agreement with Governor Kathy Hochul to put our city on the pathway to universal child care. We are not only providing free child care for every three-year-old in the city, we're now doing it for two-year-olds as well. By the end of our first term, we will see every single two-year-old receiving free child care across the five boroughs of New York City. [0:42] You're also facing a $5.4 billion budget shortfall. You are required by law to balance the budget. Are you confident you can accomplish all of the promises that you made in your first term, in one term? [0:56] So I've always said that we would accomplish all of these promises by the time that I'm done being the mayor. I'm fully confident of doing exactly that. And as you said, we inherited the largest fiscal crisis that the city has seen since the Great Recession. Frankly, this dwarfs even that. [1:10] When we first came into office, we were looking at $12 billion. And thanks to the work that we did, the savings, the allocations of our reserves, the commitment from the governor, we were able to bring that down to $5.4 billion. [1:22] Now what we're seeing is the importance of not just finalizing the city budget process, but the state budget process. And we're actually just a day from the moment when the governor announced that we will be pursuing a pied-à-terre tax, which will be a tax on the properties of the wealthiest of the wealthy. [1:40] And we're so excited to be working with her on exactly that, because it will raise half a billion dollars for New York City, and it will do so on an annual basis. [1:48] And we are going to get to taxes momentarily. But do you think you can accomplish all of your promises to New Yorkers? Or do you think you would need a second term in order to promise and achieve the sweeping promises you make? [2:02] I'm not going to just knock on wood over here for the second term. But look, I've said time and again that when I was running for mayor, New Yorkers would come up to me. [2:10] They would say one of three things typically. They were talking about freezing the rent, making buses fast and free, delivering universal child care. [2:17] In this first 100 days, we had six vacancies on the rent guidelines board that determines whether or not that decision will be made. [2:24] We filled all six of them. They're an independent board. They'll make their decision this summer. [2:27] When it comes to universal child care, we talked about the $1.2 billion. When it comes to making our buses fast and free, we're already delivering on the fast. [2:35] We are speeding up buses from more than a million New Yorkers, putting back up to six minutes back into their lives each trip. [2:42] And we're doing this because we currently have the slowest buses in the United States of America. [2:45] And we're working with Albany to make those buses free. And we're confident by the time that we are done with our administration, we will have delivered on these three central promises. [2:53] Let's talk about how you're going to pay for all of this. [2:56] You've worked with Governor Kathy Hochul to get some of the starting blocks in place for universal child care, for example, which you referenced. [3:04] When can New Yorkers expect to see full universal child care? What's the timeline for that? [3:10] They will see full universal child care for two-year-olds by the end of the first term. [3:13] And then in the second term, we would pursue fulfilling that for one-year-olds and those from six weeks and above. [3:20] We've always said over the course of the campaign, we would deliver it for New Yorkers from the ages of six weeks to five years. [3:25] What we started in these first hundred days was fixing the system for three-year-olds. [3:30] We've delivered on that. We're rolling that out right now. [3:33] And then starting to deliver it for the first time in history for two-year-olds. [3:36] And I just want to go back to sometimes this feels like, you know, just checking off a box on a list that did we do something that we talked about. [3:43] The importance of doing this is also because of what it means for New Yorkers. [3:46] We're talking about $20,000 a year that a family won't have to shell out for child care any longer because they know they can afford to raise their kid in the city they love. [3:55] And you still don't, you have an agreement with Governor Hochul on that. [3:59] You don't have an agreement with Governor Hochul on raising taxes on the wealthy yet. [4:04] Will you be able to deliver on your promise of taxing the wealthy to help pay for your programs? [4:10] Absolutely. [4:11] And I'm actually happy to tell you that that pie de terre tax, that is an agreement that we have to tax the wealthy. [4:16] Because, again, when we're talking about a pie de terre, this is a home that is owned here in New York City by someone who doesn't live in New York City. [4:24] And we're talking about the valuation of which is the super rich, not just of this country, but across the world. [4:30] I was just yesterday standing in front of 220 Central Park West. [4:34] And there at the penthouse was a home that Ken Griffin had bought for $238 million. [4:41] This is the kind of real estate activity that's happening in the city. [4:44] Homes that are largely empty for much of the year, but it all occurs while New Yorkers are hurting in this same city. [4:51] We're starting to actually bridge that gap, and I'm so excited to be working with the governor on it. [4:54] When you talk to New Yorkers, they say they feel like they're already overtaxed. [4:59] What do you say to middle-class New Yorkers who are worried some of these taxes could wind up impacting them? [5:06] I tell them unless they make more than a million dollars a year or own some of the most profitable corporations in our city [5:12] or have a second home that's worth more than $5 million, then these are not taxes that apply to them. [5:17] And what I've sought to make this city the most expensive in the United States of America [5:21] is one that's affordable for the people who have been priced out of it. [5:25] And that's why I have fought for a vision that looks to ask those with the most to pay that little bit more so that everyone can live here. [5:32] All right, let's talk about President Trump. [5:34] When we last spoke after your first Oval Office meeting, one that surprised a lot of people in how cordial it was, [5:43] how would you describe your relationship with President Trump right now? [5:48] I would say that it's honest, it's direct, and it's productive. [5:52] And are you still in regular contact with him? [5:54] How often do you speak to the president? [5:56] I'll keep the cadence of that between the two of us. [5:58] Much of that is based on the premise of privacy. [6:01] But what I will say is that those conversations, no matter how they happen, they return back to one thing, [6:06] one of the few things that we have in common, which is our love for New York City and how to deliver for this same city. [6:12] He said it after the first meeting that we had in the Oval Office. [6:16] He told the press that were there that the better this city does, the happier he feels. [6:21] That's exactly how I feel about this city as well. [6:23] You know, many Democratic mayors, governors, members of Congress have struggled to figure out how to navigate their relationship with President Trump. [6:33] What do you think you have gotten right about that? [6:37] What do you think that you're doing that's been effective so far? [6:39] I think, to be honest with you, I am lucky in that I have something that no one else does, which is that I'm from New York City. [6:46] And New York City holds a very special place for him, as well as for me. [6:50] We're both from this same city. [6:52] And it means that our conversations are not just of the scale that is typical with the president, [6:57] but also granular about even the things as specific as zoning law changes in midtown Manhattan. [7:03] And that, I think, speaks to the fact that Donald Trump is not just the president of this country. [7:08] He's also someone who's been a New Yorker for his entire life. [7:10] And there's an investment in this city doing well. [7:13] Because you've now had a number of conversations with President Trump, do you trust President Trump? [7:18] I would say that those conversations are ones where we know they have to continue. [7:23] And there have been times where I have raised things to the president. [7:26] For example, in that last meeting, it was a meeting where we mostly spoke about this housing development. [7:32] But over the course of the meeting, I did mention that just that morning that ICE had detained a Columbia University student. [7:37] I mentioned to him that this was part of a larger trend that we had seen of five individuals being detained in or around Columbia University. [7:44] I gave him a list of those five. [7:46] Thirty minutes after the meeting, he called me and said he had now made the decision to release her. [7:51] And so I think we see in those decisions the worth of a relationship that is both honest and direct and looking to be productive. [7:59] And that honesty means acknowledging places of disagreement. [8:02] When I was telling him that, I also told him, as I've said time and again, that I believe these ICE raids to be cruel, to be inhumane, and to do nothing to serve in the stated interest that it has, which is that of public safety. [8:13] Let's talk about the Democratic Party and the future of the Democratic Party. [8:18] Former Vice President Kamala Harris said just last week she is thinking about running for president again. [8:24] Would you like to see former Vice President Kamala Harris run for president again? [8:28] I have to be honest, I haven't thought about the candidacies for president this time. [8:31] My focus is 2026. [8:33] You're the only Democrat who hasn't thought about that. [8:36] And I'm proud to say that I am not and will never be running for president. [8:40] And here in 2026, I want to be delivering for New Yorkers. [8:43] And when it comes to the national level, I want to make sure that we win these midterms and actually have a vision that we're fighting for, not just one that we're fighting against. [8:51] Let me ask you about some New York politicians. [8:53] Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer notably did not endorse you in the general election. [8:59] And now there's a big discussion about generational leadership in your party, as you know. [9:05] Just three years ago, do you think that Senator Schumer should step aside as leader of Senate Democrats? [9:14] I have to be honest with you. [9:15] This is another question that gets into the future, gets into 2020. [9:19] Well, this is a New Yorker, though. [9:20] This is personal for you in some way, in terms of your politics here. [9:24] And I'll tell you that right now, my focus is on working with everyone. [9:27] And that includes Senator Schumer. [9:28] It includes others as well. [9:29] And it's not predicated on did you endorse me in the election or not, because everyone is a New Yorker who has the opportunity to deliver for this city. [9:38] You know, recently I worked with Senator Schumer to deliver on a hub of relief for delivery workers right here across from City Hall. [9:46] That's what it looks like to actually work with anyone and everyone. [9:49] We're going to continue to do that. [9:50] Would you like to see Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenge Senator Schumer for his seat as a part of the generational change that's being discussed? [9:58] I will tell you this, that I have had the privilege of being represented by Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, and it was an honor to have that be my experience. [10:07] Now it's an honor to work with her as an incredible congresswoman. [10:10] And I'm excited to see whatever it is that she decides to do next. [10:14] I don't think she's made a decision as yet, but we're very proud of her here in New York City. [10:17] Do you have any thoughts about this debate over generational change? [10:20] Is it time for a younger generation of politicians in the Democratic Party? [10:24] I think it's time for a party that reflects the urgency that we're seeing across this country in terms of hunger, frankly, that is not as much tied just to age, but to vision. [10:35] You know, we know very well what we oppose. [10:38] What are we for? [10:39] That is a question that I think we have to be able to answer. [10:42] What are we fighting for? [10:44] It was not just enough in this mayoral campaign to say that I wasn't like other mayoral candidates. [10:49] We had to always answer the question of New Yorkers, what would we deliver for them? [10:52] And I really think that that is at the heart of the question for our party. [10:56] And I'll be honest with you, when you look back at the history books of our party, 100 years ago, we had a very clear vision of what we were fighting for. [11:03] And it is sad that for too many Americans, when they want to look for ambition in the Democratic Party, they have to turn to a history book. [11:09] Now that you've bumped up against the hard realities of a $5.4 billion budget shortfall and the other red tape that you have to go through, do you still believe in democratic socialism? [11:20] Do you still think it can be effective? [11:21] I believe in it even more than I did the day before, and that's because of the fact that it is focused on the needs of working people, and working people need that focus, that fight from politicians more than ever. [11:32] We thank you for watching, and remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app, or watch live on our YouTube channel.