Mamdani, Obama Meet for First Time Publicly at Bronx Child Care Center

Mamdani campaigned on a promise of free childcare as a way to reduce costs for families living in the city, a program that has an estimated cost of $6 billion.

Former President Barack Obama, left, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani read a book to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in New York, on April 18, 2026. Angelina Katsanis /AP Photo

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former President Barack Obama had their first public meeting on April 18, bringing together two influential figures in the Democratic Party from different generations.

At a daycare center in New York City, Obama appeared alongside Mamdani, whose policies have focused on expanding social programs, including universal child care, and helping the city’s struggling working class.