US President Donald Trump met New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday, holding their third in-person meeting since Mamdani’s election. The roughly hour-long private meeting was followed by a joint appearance with reporters and focused on housing, affordability and immigration issues affecting New Yorkers.
The meeting was notable given the sharp political differences between Trump and Mamdani. Trump has previously criticized Mamdani over his political positions, while Mamdani has opposed several Trump administration policies. Despite those differences, the two have maintained direct communication through meetings, phone calls and messages.
Speaking after the meeting, Trump recalled his previous visits to Gracie Mansion and said he had met many New York mayors there, describing some as “great” and others less favorably. He then expressed hope that Mamdani would become a “great” mayor.
Housing Project Takes Center Stage
One of the main subjects was the proposed Sunnyside Yard development in Queens. Mamdani said the two sides had agreed to establish a new level of discussions between City Hall’s housing and operations teams and the White House.
The proposed project would involve approximately 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs above the Sunnyside rail yards. Mamdani has sought federal assistance for the roughly $21 billion development.
Trump said the project would require substantial federal approvals and likely federal funding, while noting that efforts to develop the site had been discussed for decades.
Mamdani described the project as potentially creating an entirely new neighborhood in a city where housing costs are a major concern.
Haitian Immigrants Also Discussed
Mamdani said he raised the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.
He said he emphasized the importance of Haitian New Yorkers to the city’s economy and social fabric and argued for maintaining protections for Haitian immigrants. The issue has become particularly significant for New York because of the size of the city’s Haitian community.
The meeting also touched on broader questions involving affordability, public safety and the relationship between City Hall and the federal government.
First Presidential Visit to Gracie Mansion in Decades
Trump’s visit marked the first time a sitting US president had visited Gracie Mansion in decades. The last such visit was by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, when he met then-Mayor Ed Koch.
Trump had also spoken warmly about the residence before arriving, recalling his previous visits there. During the joint appearance, he said the building represented New York and referred to memories of spending time there with previous mayors.
Relationship Has Evolved Despite Policy Differences
Trump and Mamdani first met at the White House in November, shortly after Mamdani’s mayoral election. They met again in February, shortly after Mamdani took office. Monday’s meeting was their third in-person encounter and their first at Gracie Mansion.
Mamdani said after Monday’s meeting that he was prepared to work with anyone who had the power and willingness to improve conditions for New Yorkers, regardless of political affiliation.
The latest meeting therefore brought together two leaders who continue to disagree on issues including immigration and other federal policies, while simultaneously pursuing cooperation on areas such as housing and the city’s cost of living.
