New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani made an unannounced visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Donald Trump Thursday.
Mamdani later suggested that he had found common ground with Trump on the issue of building more housing in NYC.
“I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon,” Mamdani shared in a X post, alongside a photo with Trump. “I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City.”
Mamdani previously met with Trump in November, shortly after he was elected to office. (RELATED: Trump Gives Mamdani Permission To Call Him Fascist In Hilarious Oval Office Exchange)
He is pictured next the president, who is holding two printouts of New York Daily News front pages.
I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon.
I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City. pic.twitter.com/XnPbt0KXYU
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026
One of the printouts, featuring President Trump, is a fabricated front-page printout with the text, “Trump to City: Let’s Build”, and in smaller text the page reads, “Backs New Era of Housing” and “Trump Delivers 12,000+ Homes; Most Since 1973.”
The other printout features the iconic 1975 front page featuring former President Gerald Ford with the headline, “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” referring to his refusal to bail out NYC which was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Mamdani gave the printouts to Trump, Anna Bahr, a spokeswoman for City Hall, told the New York Times (NYT). The 12,000 figure was related to a real proposal, according to Bahr.
After the meeting, Mamdani shared that he secured an agreement with Trump to order the release of Columbia University undergraduate student, Elmina Aghayeva, who was reportedly detained by ICE early Thursday morning. (RELATED: Two NYC Cops Landed In Hospital With Head Injuries — Mamdani Says It Was Just A ‘Snowball Fight’)
“He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani shared on X.
Just got off the phone with President Trump.
In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning.
He has just informed me that she will be released imminently. https://t.co/rvmTWpq83r
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026
“The University is relieved and thrilled that our student, Ellie, has been released from detainment,” Columbia University said in a X statement.
The New York Post first reported that Mamdani traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president. Both Trump and Mamdani left the meeting off their public schedules.
During the State of the Union address Tuesday, Trump mentioned Mamdani, saying that he spoke to him often.
“The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually. I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy,” Trump said.
Trump also criticized NYC’s use of volunteer shovelers, a temporary position requiring two forms of ID and a social security number.
New York voters are not mandated to show ID when casting ballots, although they are required to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, 4 NBC New York reported.
Read the full article here
