Trump and US elections latest: 'Only way' to end shutdown is so-called 'nuclear option', president says

Zohran Mamdani has been asked about the first thing he did after winning the mayoral election.

"Drink some water," he replies.

"It took a moment for it to settle in and when it did... often at times this job is described with the language of burden, responsibility, pressure and those things are true but what is lost is opportunity and that's what I felt in that moment."

He adds that he looks forward to "fulfilling the trust" of those who voted for him.

Zohran Mamdani confirms the White House still hasn't reached out to congratulate him after his victory in the New York mayoral election.

Earlier, we told you that there were reports the US president is yet to congratulate the Democratic mayor-elect or his team (see 14.55 post).

But Mamdani says he "continues to be interested in having a conversation" with Donald Trump "on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers".

"Whether that be delivering on his campaign promises around the cost of living, or the many issues that New Yorkers have been sharing with me about the drastic impacts of the legislation that President Trump has ushered through Washington will mean for them and their lives," he adds.

Here are the latest pictures from New York, where mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and his transition team have been speaking.

They spoke during a news conference at the Unisphere in Queens.

Taking more questions, Zohran Mamdani is now asked about the issue of antisemitism.

New York's first Muslim mayor tells the assembled journalists:

"I take the issue of antisemitism incredibly seriously. Last night in my speech I spoke about how my city hall will stand steadfast with Jewish New Yorkers."

He adds:

"I look forward to working with Jewish leaders across this city... to deliver on the promise of not just protecting Jewish New Yorkers but celebrating and protecting them in the same city."

Against the backdrop of Israel's war in Gaza, the issue of antisemitism has been in sharp political focus in the US.

Asked if his victory offers a lesson for Donald Trump, Mamdani says it should be that it is not enough to simply "diagnose the crisis" facing working class Americans. 

He says Trump ran during last year's presidential election on a platform promising cheaper groceries. 

But Mamdani said the US president should take the blame for the current government shutdown, which is depriving many Americans in need of credits to make food cheaper. 

Trump has "literally made it harder", he adds, because of people missing out on SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

"We're finally offering a vision that can meet the scale of crisis faced by working class New Yorkers," Mamdani says. 

For context: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often known simply as food stamps, is a United States government scheme that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people to "help them maintain adequate nutrition and health".

Zohran Mamdani is taking questions from the media.

"I look forward to being the mayor for every person that calls this city home," he says.

"That includes the Jewish New Yorkers that votes for our campaign and those that didn't, my responsibility is to all 8.5 million New Yorkers."

Mamdani says the embrace "of what makes New York City special" has been missing in the leaders of the city.

"I am excited to be the first immigrant to lead this city in generations," he says.

"I'm excited more frankly to deliver on an agenda of affordability alongside these incredible co-chairs for New Yorkers."

Asked about his message to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after recent raids ordered by the Trump administration, Mamdani says "everyone will be held to the same standards of the law".

"There is sadly a sense growing across this country that certain people are allowed to violate that law, whether it be the president or the agents themselves," he adds.

Zohran Mamdani now moves on to outlining the transition team he's taking with him into office.

Here's who he names:

• Ilana Leopold, who will serve as executive director
• Former federal trade commission chair Lina Khan
• Former first deputy mayor Maria Torres
• Springer United Way president and chief executive Grace Bonilla
• Former deputy mayor for health and human services Melanie Hartzog

Mamdani adds:

"Over the coming days, we'll start announcing the leaders who will implement our agenda. People like deputy mayors who oversee entire areas of government, and the commissioners who carry out the critical work of city agencies. Some of these people will have familiar names, others will not. What will unite them will be a commitment to solving old problems with new solutions. We will cast a wide net. We will speak to the organisers on the front lines of the fight to improve our city government. Veterans with proven track records, policy experts from around the country and the world."

Mamdani's team all briefly spoke on stage as well.

 "Good morning New York, last night we made history," Zohran Mamdani says as he starts his news conference.

"I'm so proud to be standing here today as the mayor-elect of the greatest city in the world."

Mamdani says he will "work every day to honour the trust that I now hold".

"The poetry of campaigning may have come to a close last night at 9pm, but the beautiful prose of governing has only just begun," he says.

"The hard work of improving New Yorkers' lives starts now."

Mamdani - who will be the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest person in a century to serve as the famous city's mayor - used a victory speech to throw down the gauntlet to Donald Trump last night.

Mamdani said: "If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

"This is not only how we stop Trump. It's how we stop the next one. So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: 'Turn the volume up'."

Zohran Mamdani is speaking at a news conference after his win in the New York mayoral election.

In his victory speech, Mamdani told his supporters Donald Trump would be watching and said the US president should "turn the volume up".

You can watch along in the live stream at the top of the page and we'll bring you live text updates.

The stage is set for Zohran Mamdani, who will be speaking in New York shortly.

His podium contains the message "a new era" after his win in the city's mayoral election.

Watch his remarks live at the top of this page.