Trump on Mamdani: 'I would be better than him'

President Donald Trump is continuing attacks on NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's policies.

In a press conference from the Oval Office this week, the president called Mamdani a "smart guy," but said he didn't understand some of his moves in office.

Here's what to know on the ongoing back-and-forth between the two.

Trump calls out Mamdani, once again

After Trump signed executive orders, he said that Mamdani was pushing companies out of the city, and that if it continued, would "end up in hunger or squalor."

"I don't understand why he thinks its OK for all these companies that pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes a year to leave," Trump said to reporters.

"Because you're not going to have any tax base, and you're going to end up in hunger and squalor and death and destruction."

This isn't a new gripe the president has with the mayor. He has publicly disagreed with Mamdani's new pied-à-terre tax proposal, which targets wealthier residents.

But then Trump's comments took a turn. He said at his desk, seemingly mocking the mayor: "I would be better than him if I wanted to go that route. Ladies and gentleman, you're no longer gonna pay rent. You no longer have to pay interest on your mortgage."

"In fact, I'll end your mortgage. I'm going to cut everything. You're no longer going to have to pay for food. I'm gonna give you a grocery store, and I'm going to give you free food."

"I would be the best ever at giving it," Trump said.

Mamdani's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by USA TODAY on the president's comments.

Mamdani's ongoing feud with Trump

The two have had their disagreements, but their in-person meetings have typically gone well despite ideological and political differences.

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mamdani said in the White House after their first face-to-face talk.

"He wants to see no crime. He wants to see housing being built. He wants to see rents coming down, all things that I agree with,” Trump continued after the meeting.

But with their similarities comes division in how to execute certain policies.

For example, Mamdani's campaign focused on taxing the rich in order to have more services for New Yorkers. But in April, when Mamdani proposed his tax plan on wealthier residents, Trump slammed it on social media.

"Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

"It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS 'STUFF' JUST DOESN’T WORK."