Key facts
- Donald Trump met with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion.
- Trump called Mamdani a "democratic socialist" and expressed hope he would be a "great mayor".
- The leaders discussed affordable housing and immigration.
- Mamdani stated he and Trump were "very frank about the many disagreements we have".
- This was the first presidential visit to Gracie Mansion in 45 years, following Ronald Reagan's meeting with Ed Koch in 1981.
- Trump and Mamdani appeared friendly during a press conference after their meeting.
President Donald Trump met with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday, offering an unusually warm assessment of the democratic socialist leader. Trump expressed hope that Mamdani would be a "great mayor" for the city, a stark contrast to his previous rhetoric that has often characterized Democratic politicians as "communists."
Following their closed-door meeting, Trump and Mamdani appeared friendly. Mamdani described their discussion as "wide-ranging," touching on affordable housing and immigration, but acknowledged they had "many disagreements."
Mamdani stated he shared his strong opinions on keeping New Yorkers, particularly immigrant New Yorkers, safe and highlighted their importance to the city's economy and fabric. He also mentioned discussing the Trump administration's policies regarding Haitian immigrants.
The visit was notable as it marked the first presidential visit to the historic Gracie Mansion in 45 years, with Ronald Reagan being the last president to visit in 1981. Mamdani explained his willingness to work with anyone who could "deliver" for New Yorkers, citing a shared interest in developing housing at Sunnyside Yard in Queens.
Trump, a right-wing populist, has frequently targeted immigrants and Muslims, while Mamdani is a democratic socialist and New York's first Muslim mayor. Trump has made denouncing Democrats as "godless communists" a central theme of his midterm election campaign. However, regarding Mamdani, Trump stated, "I want what's good for New York. I want what's good for the country... I want him to be a great mayor."
During the press conference, Mamdani addressed the press, stating, "I told the president that we're going to have all of the members of the press here on the lawn, and that is something that I believe in." Trump interjected, noting that he wasn't worried about press boycotts as a large assembly was present.
Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and Mamdani's chief of staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church, were also in attendance. The meeting occurred a day after Mamdani met with migrant delivery workers who expressed concerns about increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests. Earlier this month, Mamdani was involved in initiating a lawsuit against the Trump administration's "public charge" rule change.