President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will meet on Monday at Gracie Mansion. This meeting will test their working relationship as they continue to differ on immigration and other key policies.
Despite their disagreements, Trump and Mamdani have found some common ground. In February, they had a productive meeting in the Oval Office focused on New York housing. However, Mamdani opposes Trump’s immigration policies, while Trump frequently criticizes Mamdani’s agenda.
In April, Trump commented on Mamdani’s impact on New York, stating, “Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance!” This remark followed a proposal backed by Mamdani for a new tax on second homes valued over $5 million.
Trump initially met with Mamdani last November and noted the mayor might “surprise some conservative people,” adding, “The better he does, the happier I am.” Their last encounter in the Oval Office, on February 26, was cordial, with discussions about an ambitious New York housing proposal.
The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually,” Trump said in his State of the Union address in February. “I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy.
Mamdani sought federal support from Trump for a large-scale housing project, aiming to secure over $21 billion for 12,000 affordable homes, along with parks, schools, health clinics, and union jobs.
This week, Trump travels to New York City for the United Nations General Assembly and will meet with Mamdani beforehand. Trump will return to Washington by Wednesday for a state visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders have clashed over immigration enforcement. Tensions rose after ICE arrested more than 2,100 people in a month-long operation, “Operation Rotten Apple,” in New York.
Mamdani’s administration joined a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new public-charge rule, affecting how immigration officials assess applicants’ use of public benefits.
If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you.” Mamdani explained last week.
He added, “The new public charge rule not only sweeps aside more than a century of established law, it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers.”
Mamdani plans to address reporters following the meeting.
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