Even the location was kept secret: the unusual visit planned by Mamdani

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted the U20 summit in the city, with 25 mayors and leaders from around the world. Much of the event was closed to the press, and the exact location was kept secret. Mamdani delivered an opening speech addressing immigration, the climate crisis, and housing affordability, and criticized right-wing groups he said are demonizing immigrants. The New York Post criticized the secrecy surrounding the event.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted the U20 summit in the city, which brought together 25 mayors and leaders from around the world. The summit was marked by an unprecedented level of secrecy: the exact location of events was kept secret, and much of it was closed to the press. In his opening speech, which Mamdani delivered and even posted footage of on social media, he addressed three main topics: immigration, the climate crisis, and housing affordability. Mamdani criticized right-wing groups that he said 'have made it their goal to demonize and terrorize immigrants.' He expressed hope that the conference would mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation. The New York Post criticized the veil of secrecy surrounding the event.