In an unexpected development that was absent from the official public schedule, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, later describing the discussion as focused and constructive. Mamdani shared a photograph from the Oval Office on social media, stating that the meeting had been productive and emphasising his intention to work toward expanding housing development in New York City.
The image quickly attracted attention as both leaders stood behind the Resolute Desk, with Trump holding up two front pages of the New York Daily News. One reproduced the historic October 30, 1975 headline “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD,” which referred to former president Gerald Ford’s refusal to support a federal bailout for New York during its financial crisis. The second was a recreated version featuring Trump alongside the headline “TRUMP TO CITY: LET’S BUILD,” symbolically presenting support for housing initiatives and signalling what was portrayed as a new phase of cooperation on urban development.
According to individuals familiar with the matter, the meeting took place around 1 p.m. and included several of Mamdani’s advisers who were also present in Washington. The interaction marked the second meeting between the two leaders and came only two days after Trump referenced Mamdani during his State of the Union address, describing him as “a nice guy with bad policies.” During the speech, Trump also criticised the mayor’s decision to hire emergency snow shovelers following a recent blizzard, repeating concerns he had previously raised about hiring requirements.
Despite clear policy differences, both leaders have maintained a relatively cordial public tone. Following Mamdani’s election last year, the two had held an earlier meeting that both sides characterised as constructive, with Trump highlighting their shared interest in improving the city’s future. Mamdani similarly acknowledged the value of dialogue at the time, stressing cooperation aimed at addressing affordability challenges faced by New Yorkers.
