Mamdani previously used a mock Knicks logo reading "New York Zohran" in a campaign ad. The ad ran during the broadcast of a Knicks game in New York and depicted a game of pickup basketball. It concluded with an image of the mock Knicks logo.

President Trump said regarding a meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, "We'll work something out." Trump's comments on Sunday came after Mamdani said last week that he planned to reach out to the White House “because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city,” The Associated Press reported.