Mamdani calls meeting with Trump ‘productive,’ discusses major NYC housing project

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani meets Trump to push 12,000-home housing plan, raises ICE detention case

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, describing the talks as “productive” and focused on expanding housing in the city, while also raising concerns about the detention of a Columbia University student by federal immigration authorities.

The meeting, which took place around 1 p.m. in Washington, marked at least the second in-person discussion between the two leaders since Mamdani’s mayoral election victory last year. Despite sharp policy differences between the Democratic mayor and the Republican president, both have maintained a cordial tone in recent months.

“Had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon,” Mamdani wrote on X, posting a photograph of the two leaders in the Oval Office. “I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City.”

Housing development was central to the discussions. According to people familiar with the matter, Mamdani presented a proposal for a large-scale housing project that could deliver more than 12,000 new homes. A spokesperson for the mayor said the president reacted positively and was “enthusiastic” about the concept.

During their first meeting after Mamdani’s election, Trump had encouraged the mayor to return with plans to build “big things.” On Thursday, Mamdani’s team brought visual materials to underscore their proposal, including mock newspaper front pages. One recreated the famous October 30, 1975, New York Daily News headline, “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD,” while the other read, “TRUMP TO CITY: LET’S BUILD,” signaling support for a “new era of housing.”

Trump has repeatedly emphasized housing affordability as a national priority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In his recent State of the Union address, he reiterated that pledge and mentioned Mamdani, calling him “a nice guy with bad policies.” He also referenced New York City’s emergency snow shoveling program.

“They want people to shovel snow... they got hit hard... but if you apply for that job, you have to show two forms of ID and a Social Security card,” Trump said, contrasting the requirement with Republican calls for stricter voter identification laws.

Mamdani later joked about the unexpected national attention the city’s snow shoveling program had received. Earlier this week, he declined to detail how often he speaks with the president, saying only that their conversations focus on improving the city. “I'll keep the conversations that I have with the president private,” Mamdani said.

The meeting coincided with the detention of Columbia University student Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). University officials alleged that agents gained access to her apartment under “misrepresentations.” Mamdani said he raised the matter directly with Trump, who assured him she would be “released imminently.” Aghayeva later confirmed on social media that she had been freed.

Mamdani also provided the White House with a list of four additional students he said had been targeted over pro-Palestinian protests.

While the two leaders differ sharply on immigration enforcement and U.S. policy toward Israel’s war in Gaza, both have publicly stressed a willingness to cooperate on affordability and housing supply. The president, a former real estate developer, has previously expressed interest in large-scale construction projects in New York.

Housing affordability remains a pressing issue nationwide, with high mortgage rates and limited supply continuing to strain buyers. Economists have warned that trade and immigration policies affecting construction materials and labor markets could further complicate efforts to expand housing stock. For now, both sides have framed the latest meeting as a step toward collaboration, even as broader political tensions persist.