Mamdani Has ‘Productive Meeting’ With Trump At White House
New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani made an unannounced visit to Washington, DC, to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
Mamdani later suggested that he had found common ground with Trump on the issue of building more housing in New York.
“Had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon,” Mamdani shared in an X post, alongside a photo with Trump. “I look forward to building more housing in New York.”
Mamdani previously met with Trump in November, shortly after his election. (RELATED: Trump Gives Mamdani Permission to Call Him a Fascist in Hilarious Oval Office Exchange)
He is pictured next to the president, who is holding two printouts of the front pages of the New York Daily News.
I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon.
I look forward to building more housing in New York. pic.twitter.com/XnPbt0KXYU
– Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026
One of the prints, featuring President Trump, is a fabricated print on the front page with the text “Trump to City: Let’s Build,” and in smaller text the page reads “Supports the New Era of Housing” and “Trump Delivers More Than 12,000 Homes; most since 1973.”
The other print 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 New York which was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Mamdani handed the printouts to Trump, City Hall spokesperson Anna Bahr told the New York Times (NYT). The 12,000 figure was linked to an actual proposal, according to Bahr.
After the meeting, Mamdani said he had reached an agreement with Trump to order the release of Columbia University undergraduate Elmina Aghayeva, who was reportedly arrested by ICE early Thursday morning. (RELATED: Two NYC Cops Landed in Hospital with Head Injuries – Mamdani Says It Was Just a ‘Snowball Fight’)
“He just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani shared on X.
I just spoke on the phone with President Trump.
During our meeting earlier, I raised concerns about Colombian student Elaina Aghayeva, who was arrested by ICE this morning.
He just informed me that she will be released soon. https://t.co/rvmTWpq83r
– Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026
“The University is relieved and pleased that our student, Ellie, has been released from detention,” Columbia University said in a X statement.
The New York Post first reported that Mamdani had traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president. Trump and Mamdani left the meeting outside of their public agenda.
During the State of the Union address Tuesday, Trump mentioned Mamdani, saying he speaks to him often.
“The new communist mayor of New York, I think he’s a nice guy, actually. I talk to him a lot. Bad politics, but nice guy,” Trump said.
Trump also criticized New York’s use of volunteer shovelers, a temporary position requiring two forms of identification and a Social Security number.
Voters in New York are not required to show identification when voting, although they are required to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, 4 NBC New York reported.
