New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with some of the city's wealthiest business leaders this week, following criticism from the elite class over his 'Tax the Rich' rallying cries. The progressive mayor held a meeting with JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon at the company's headquarters on Monday, according to Mamdani's office. Later that day, he met with Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon at Gracie Mansion.
Unusual Meetings Amid Contentious Relations
These unusual meetings come after a period of strained relations between Mamdani and the billionaire class. Mamdani ran on a platform of affordability, promising to increase taxes for the city's wealthiest residents. This message proved polarizing, with many praising his connection to the working class while others predicted a 'mass exodus' of elite residents.
On Tax Day, Mamdani posted a viral video in front of hedge fund manager Ken Griffin's Manhattan penthouse. In the video, he declared, 'When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich. Well, today, we're taxing the rich.' The video sparked outrage among New York's business elite, with Griffin condemning it as 'frightening' and claiming it left him in fear for his life.
Criticism from Dimon and Solomon
Dimon and Solomon have also levied criticisms against Mamdani. Dimon previously called Mamdani's campaign platform 'the same ideological mush that means nothing in the real world' and labeled him a 'Marxist.' However, after Mamdani's election, Dimon congratulated him and expressed willingness for productive conversations. During a CNN interview, Dimon said Mamdani's affordability promises were not necessarily a product of Democratic Socialism and that he was 'all in' with those addressing income inequality.
A spokesperson for the mayor's office described the recent meeting between Mamdani and Dimon as 'genial.' The two discussed rooting out government waste, cutting red tape, and public-private sector collaboration. Mamdani also expressed appreciation for JPMorgan's presence in the city, and they bonded over their love for Queens, including Dimon's upbringing in Jackson Heights. At the meeting's end, Dimon gifted Mamdani a copy of Our Towns by James and Deborah Fallows.
Meeting with Solomon
Later, Mamdani met with Solomon at Gracie Mansion. City Hall reported that the two discussed affordable housing, small businesses, and investing in family-supporting policies. Mamdani's office said the conversation 'ended on a warm note,' and Solomon invited the mayor to visit Goldman Sachs' office soon.
Mamdani has also met with other top business leaders, including Blackstone president Jonathan Gray and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. A City Hall spokesperson stated, 'The mayor has had a number of productive meetings with business leaders over the past few months, and he looks forward to continuing to engage with the business community because he recognizes the critical role that the business leaders play in our economy and in our city.'
A source familiar with the meetings told the Wall Street Journal that Mamdani was discussing a real estate development in Queens with several CEOs, which Donald Trump has expressed interest in. The Daily Mail has reached out to JPMorgan and Mamdani's office for additional comment.
