New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is drawing a firm line against the White House after Donald Trump threatened to cut off federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities, a move that could put their unlikely political d�tente to the test.

Speaking Wednesday at a Brooklyn event unrelated to immigration, Mamdani said he has already pushed back directly with the president, warning that New York�s sanctuary laws are �not bargaining chips.�

�I will always continue to make the case for the city,� Mamdani told reporters. �When it comes to the threat to restrict federal funding to New York City, our values and our laws are not up for negotiation.�

Trump said Tuesday that his administration would freeze federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions starting Feb. 1, accusing them of shielding criminals and undermining immigration enforcement. �We�re not making any payment to anybody that supports sanctuary cities,� the president said.

The standoff is notable given the unusually cordial relationship that has developed between Mamdani, a pro-immigrant Democratic socialist, and Trump, a hard-line Republican. Since a surprisingly warm Oval Office meeting in November, the two have spoken regularly by phone and text, according to people familiar with the exchanges.

But immigration has long been a fault line between New York City and the Trump administration. City officials sharply criticized federal agents this week after the detention of a City Council staffer during an immigration appointment, reigniting tensions just as Trump�s funding threat looms.

Mamdani said Wednesday he has yet to hear back from Trump.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)