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WASHINGTON: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported having a constructive conversation with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, covering topics like housing and the detention of students by federal immigration officials.
This was their second meeting since Mamdani’s election victory last year. Mamdani is a Democrat, while Trump is a Republican.
Sharing a photo with Trump on social media, Mamdani wrote, “Had a fruitful discussion with President Trump this afternoon. Excited to work on increasing housing in New York City.”
He also mentioned raising concerns about the detention of Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva, an Azerbaijani national, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump later told him that she would be “released soon.”
The Department of Homeland Security later confirmed Aghayeva was released and said she was facing deportation proceedings.
Despite their different political views and sharply contrasting worldviews, their previous encounter in November was unexpectedly amicable. During that meeting, they discussed ways to lower housing costs, a topic that resonated with Trump, a former real estate developer, especially when Mamdani called for more affordable housing in New York.
Addressing housing affordability has been a focus for Trump ahead of the midterm elections in late 2026, as home prices continue to be significantly higher than they were in recent years. Cost of living and affordability were central to Mamdani’s electoral success.
Trump reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the housing crisis during his recent State of the Union address and announced some policies aimed at making housing more affordable. However, mortgage rates in the U.S. are still high, and most regions face a housing shortage, making homeownership increasingly inaccessible for many families.
Experts and industry groups point to Trump’s strict trade and immigration policies as factors driving up the prices of building materials and appliances, while also limiting labor supply, which hampers construction efforts.
Mamdani has been critical of Trump’s hardline immigration measures, especially the use of ICE agents and deportation actions, as well as his policies concerning Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
His office said he presented a list of four pro-Palestinian students facing deportation and requested assistance in dismissing their cases. The students include Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Leqaa Kordia. Kordia, who was recently hospitalized after a seizure in detention and has lost many family members in Gaza, remains in ICE custody, while the others have been released over the past year.
Trump has accused pro-Palestinian protesters of antisemitism. Critics, including some Jewish groups, argue that he wrongly equates criticism of Israel’s military actions and occupation with antisemitism, and likewise links support for Palestinian rights with extremism.
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