Bill de Blasio Signals He May Make Resisting Trump's Presidency a Theme in his Own Re-election Bid in 'Mondays with the Mayor'

Trying to get past some very nasty campaign rhetoric, President-elect Donald Trump and Mayor de Blasio spoke for the first time Monday since last week’s election. Their talk and a planned meeting come as the Mayor steps up the pace for his re-election next year, signaling that he could be attacking Trump in his own stump speeches. NY1 Political Reporter Courtney Gross has more.

There is no question they have had their differences.

"It's not just xenophobia," de Blasio said. "It's not just racism. He is throwing militarism into the mix now too."

But on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump and Mayor de Blasio picked up the phone and talked.

"I had a brief conversation with him today," de Blasio told NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis. "We agreed to get together. It was a respectful conversation obviously with the acknowledgement we have very different views."

During his weekly "Mondays with the Mayor" segment on "Inside City Hall," de Blasio made it clear he would be a staunch critic of the incoming Trump administration.

He said while New Yorkers still have cause for concern, there are areas where the city can resist a Trump administration's federal policy.

"There is a lot where we as a locality are going to exercise our rights and prerogatives," the mayor said. "And by the way the constitution as you know in many ways favors states and localities over the federal government."

It also became clear this was something de Blasio could use during his re-election bid.  

"It is an indicator the working people understand especially against a backdrop of a Donald Trump that they need a mayor on their side who is willing to take on powerful interests and support working people and support organized labor, fight against income inequality," de Blasio said.

Earlier on Monday, the mayor received his first endorsement, from the sanitation workers union.

"I am honored to say this is the first labor union to endorse my reelection," de Blasio said.

A Democratic primary would still be ten months away.

Coming out early with endorsements is certainly one way to clear the field. Currently, de Blasio has no declared democratic challengers.

"We are doing it early because he recognizes the fact that this job does a tremendous job out on the street," said sanitation union president Harry Nespoli.