On Feb. 26, at the White House, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he and President Trump focused a discussion on New York’s housing challenges and a recent federal immigration enforcement operation. He described the meeting as “productive.”
The session was their second since Mamdani, a Democrat, won the mayoral election late last year.
Afterward, Mamdani posted a photo of the meeting on X, writing: “I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon. I look forward to building more housing in New York City.”
The meeting came despite past policy clashes and sharp political differences between the two. Their first meeting in November, however, was widely described as cordial.
According to Reuters, Mamdani said he raised concerns about a Columbia University student detained on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He said Trump told him the student could be released soon.
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Trump also referenced New York City’s emergency snow removal worker program during a recent State of the Union address, according to CBS News.
“If you apply for that job, you need to show two original forms of identification and a Social Security card,” Trump said. “Yet they don’t want to require identification for the greatest privilege in America.” He was referring to voting requirements.
Mamdani responded with humor. “I did not expect our emergency snow removal program to receive so much attention nationwide,” he said.
Earlier this week, Mamdani declined to say how often he has spoken with the president, adding that their conversations focus on improving the city.
“I will keep the content of my conversations with the president private,” Mamdani said.