Mamdani and Trump set for meeting at a landmark NYC residence
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mayor Zohran Mamdani will welcome President Donald Trump to Gracie Mansion on Monday, September 21, during the president's visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting will bring together two New Yorkers with sharply different political views who have continued talking despite repeated policy clashes.
Mamdani's office said the meeting will focus on “issues affecting New York City and New Yorkers” during Trump's UNGA trip, the New York Post reported Sunday, September 20.
Zohran Mamdani will host Trump at Gracie Mansion
The meeting will be the first known instance of Mamdani inviting Trump to the mayor's iconic Upper East Side residence, extending a relationship that has included both warm exchanges and sharp disagreements, the outlet cited.
Mamdani has sought to use Trump's roots as a Queens native to build a constructive relationship with the Trump administration, despite campaigning on a promise to become the president's “worst nightmare.”
The two men last met in person in February and have remained in contact by phone. When they met in the Oval Office after Mamdani's election victory last year, Trump offered a notably warm reception despite previously accusing Mamdani of being a communist, as per the outlet.
“We have one thing in common. We want this city of ours that we love to do very well,” Trump said during that meeting last November.
Mamdani was also pressed about having previously called Trump a “fascist” and a “despot.”
Trump responded, “That’s OK, you can just say yes,” adding, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting.”
Trump and Mamdani have clashed over policy
Their relationship has not prevented disagreements.
In January, Mamdani criticized Trump's decision to order a raid that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro.
Trump later discussed Mamdani with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, saying, “You know, I met him, he came to the Oval Office, and we’ve had some nice conversations and very good.”
Trump also said Mamdani had criticized him over what Trump described as a “tremendous victory” in Venezuela.
But he added, “He’s got a great personality.”
The two New Yorkers have also disagreed over Mamdani's campaign pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu came to the United States for the UN General Assembly.
Mamdani cited an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Netanyahu, while Trump rejected the prospect.
Mamdani has since acknowledged that, as mayor, he lacks the authority to arrest a foreign leader like Netanyahu.
Their meeting comes during UN General Assembly week
Mamdani said last week that his discussions with Trump had continued through both in-person meetings and phone calls as the mayor sought to deliver for New York City.
“When it comes to the president, we continue to have a conversation about how best to deliver for this city,” Mamdani told reporters.
“That is a conversation that has been done in person, it’s been done over the phone, and it will continue so long as either of us has the ability to deliver for the city,” he said.
Trump is scheduled to address the United Nations on Tuesday, while Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver his address Thursday.
During his New York visit, Trump is also expected to meet with world leaders about the conflict in the Middle East and other matters before returning to Washington for a Thursday meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
