WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met again on Monday, sitting down at Gracie Mansion as the city heads into a busy week with the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to begin.
The meeting marked the third time Trump and Mamdani have held a high-stakes sit-down. (TNND)
This afternoon, President Trump & I met at Gracie Mansion, to discuss the city we both are so fortunate to serve,” Mamdani said.
The meeting marked the third time Trump and Mamdani have held a high-stakes sit-down. Among the issues discussed were immigration and protected status. “What I made the case about is just how critical this is for so many New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.
Trump also addressed his recent ban on certain media outlets. “They said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycott me. So I wasn’t really worried about it. Look at all that press,” Trump said.
Affordable housing was also on the agenda, with Mamdani pitching a plan for Sunnyside Yard in Queens that includes building 12,000 homes, with half designated as affordable units. Trump said the project would require federal involvement.
It’s a very, I would say that was a very federal oriented job. You’re going to need a lot of federal approvals and probably some federal money to do it, but it’s always been a great location,” Trump said.
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.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly criticized Mamdani’s agenda. Attacking his tax policies, including the city’s first-ever tax on second homes valued at over $5 million. In an April post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The tax tax tax policies are so wrong. People are fleeing. They must change their ways and fast.”
Republican New York City Councilmember Frank Morano told The National News Desk Monday that coming out of the meeting with something tangible for New Yorkers would be a success, even if the two leaders remain far apart politically.
Nobody expects the president and the mayor to emerge from Gracie Mansion as political soulmates, but they don’t have to agree on everything to accomplish something,” Morano said.
Morano added that he hopes both men can lower the temperature among their supporters in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections.
I think if they can get in the habit of working together on issue after issue, where neither one of them has to compromise what they believe in, I think that would send such a wonderful message to the country,” Morano said.
The meeting also comes shortly after the NYPD announced antisemitic hate crimes are up 8% so far this year. Mamdani’s stance on antisemitism has sparked intense debate upon taking office, including after rescinding the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.