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Trump Meets NYC Mayor Mamdani to Discuss Housing and Immigration
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met Monday at Gracie Mansion to discuss affordability, housing, and immigration. The meeting took place while Trump is in New York for the United Nations' General Assembly.
The two leaders said they had a wide-ranging conversation on affordability and immigration, including constructing an affordable housing project called Sunnyside Yard, which would be built in Queens. Mamdani said he had hoped to use the discussion with Trump to advance his affordability agenda.
The meeting marked the third in-person meeting of the political opposites who have developed a seemingly cordial relationship over the past year. Mamdani said he stands by his decision to invite Trump to Gracie Mansion, claiming that he was committed to working with anyone who would help the city and its residents.
Trump and Mamdani have consistently clashed over immigration enforcement, with tensions intensifying after federal officials announced that ICE had arrested more than 2,100 people across New York during a monthlong operation.
The two discussed an array of issues affecting New York, from an affordable housing project to immigration enforcement to the president's recent ban on several media outlets, including CNN and MS NOW. Mamdani defended his meeting with President Trump, which is his third in less than a year, saying he had a responsibility to speak with anyone who could help New Yorkers.
The meeting comes as Mamdani continues to lead a coalition in a lawsuit challenging the administration’s new “public charge” rule, which would make it more difficult for lawful immigrants to get visas or green cards.
Their last meeting, on Feb. 2026, focused on New York housing.
The discussions, Mamdani said, would focus on securing federal funding for the project, and approval to build a platform that would serve at the foundation of the new community. The president did not commit to funding or approval, but said he was involved in many projects as a real estate developer to provide housing to low- and moderate-income people.
Background
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an American politician who has served as the 112th mayor of New York City since 2026. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, he represented the 36th district in the New York State Assembly from 2021 to 2025.
What's confirmed
- Trump is traveling to New York City this week for the United Nations General Assembly and is meeting with Mamdani ahead of the summit before returning to Washington on Wednesday, when Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive for a state visit.
- President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will sit down Monday at Gracie Mansion, testing a budding working relationship even as the two remain deeply divided over immigration and other major policy fights.
- "It's interesting because they said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycott me. So I wasn't very worried about that," Trump said, making a point about the press members who crowded the Mayor's residence to capture the president and mayor on camera.
- Mamdani was also asked if he challenged the president's media ban, to which Mamdani said he told the president that all members of the media would be allowed to film the news conference.
- Monday's meeting arose from an invitation Mamdani said he extended to the president during a private conversation.
- Mamdani said he had hoped to use the discussion with Trump to advance his affordability agenda.
- The mayor said the discussion touched on many different topics, including policing, immigration issues and the possibility of building a huge affordable housing development in Queens.
- “I committed over the course of the campaign, as well as while being in office, that I would meet with anyone, work with anyone that could deliver for New Yorkers,” the mayor said.
- Discussions seemed to go smoothly, as indicated by the two during a presser held after the meeting.
- However, the news conference put Mayor Mamdani in an awkward position as reporters asked Trump about his stance on media, banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House grounds.
- Mamdani defended his meeting with President Trump, which is his third in less than a year, saying he had a responsibility to speak with anyone who could help New Yorkers.
- After their second meeting, Mamdani posted on social media, “I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon," alongside a photograph of the two men in the Oval Office.
What's still developing
- “I can tell you that Sunnyside’s a big job — I’ve been watching that for 35 years,” Trump told reporters.
- The meeting took place while the president is in the city for the United Nations' General Assembly., where he is expected to speak on Tuesday.
- As a former New Yorker, Trump has repeatedly wished Mamdani well, hoping that he could improve the city.
- Mamdani, in turn, visited the White House after winning office in what appeared to be a cordial visit.
- Trump praised Mamdani after the meeting Monday, stating that he hopes the Democratic socialist will be a "great" mayor.
- Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci/Evan Vucci President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met Monday afternoon at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan where they discussed affordability, housing and how to keep "immigrant New Yorkers" safe, the mayor told reporters at a news conference afterward.
- During each encounter, they have discussed "how to improve the lives of New Yorkers" by tackling "the cost of living crisis," Mamdani said during a news conference Monday afternoon with Trump outside the mansion.
- The mayor also addressed the president’s immigration agenda and told him "how important immigrant New Yorkers, especially Haitian New Yorkers are" to the city and the economy.
- When asked about the topic at the news conference, Trump said "the mayor feels very strongly about it," but offered no indication that those feelings would sway federal policy.
- Following their first meeting the pair began communicating by text and telephone calls, Newsday previously reported.
- Before shaking the mayor’s hand and stepping away from the podium, Trump said Mamdani has "great potential." Get the latest breaking news as it happens.
- "I want him to be a great mayor," the president added.