Trump Meets Mamdani at Gracie Mansion Ahead of UN Address

President Donald Trump began his New York trip for a United Nations address with a stop at Gracie Mansion on Monday, spending about an hour with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the official mayoral residence in Manhattan.

Speaking alongside Mamdani afterward, Trump recalled earlier visits to the custard-yellow mansion and reflected on the city leaders he has known, describing "great ones and some not so great ones." He told the mayor, "Hopefully you're going to be a great one," and patted him on the back, adding that Mamdani was "off to a start."

Trump noted that he had important meetings scheduled with heads of state in town for the UN General Assembly, but described the Gracie Mansion stop as "a little bit of old home week." He said much had been accomplished from the residence behind them.

The two leaders said their discussions covered a possible housing project in Queens and ways to make New York more affordable for working-class residents. It was the latest cordial encounter between the Republican president and the democratic socialist mayor, who have built a warm working relationship despite their political differences and have sought common ground on helping the city.

They have met at least twice before. Their first gathering came in the Oval Office shortly after Mamdani's election victory last year, a surprisingly friendly meeting focused on aiding their shared hometown following months of verbal sparring. In February, Mamdani traveled to Washington and presented Trump with a mock New York Daily News front page reading "Trump to City: Let's Build," as he made the case for new housing investment in the city.

As after their first meeting, both men acknowledged their political and policy disagreements while standing together. Asked about Trump's decision to bar certain news outlets from the White House, Mamdani said it was important that those networks and others be present for the Gracie Mansion event. Trump defended the restrictions, saying the outlets whose coverage he called biased had an obligation to be fair, and noted that they had threatened a boycott but never followed through.

Trump's past visits to Gracie Mansion include the 2003 wedding of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a 2007 book party for former Democratic U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel.

After Trump departed, Mamdani returned to the lawn to take additional questions, saying he and the president have sharp disagreements but that the relationship has endured. "I will continue to have conversations with the president, and frankly, anyone who can deliver relief to the people of this city," he said.