President Donald Trump met Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion before the U.N. General Assembly and offered rare praise, saying Mamdani has "great potential." The leaders discussed housing and possible ways to increase supply in New York City. The meeting was notable given earlier tensions over Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax and past verbal attacks from Trump.
Trump Says Mayor Zohran Mamdani Has "Great Potential" After Gracie Mansion Meeting
Donald Trump, wearing a suit and blue tie, looks to the side with a serious expression. (Credit: Photo: IAB Studio / Shutterstock - ek )
President Donald Trump offered unusually warm words for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday, calling the Democratic socialist mayor someone with "great potential" after meeting at Gracie Mansion ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting, followed by a brief news conference, represented an unexpectedly conciliatory moment between two political figures who have clashed in the past.
"No, I certainly hope he will be a great mayor," Trump said. "You have to understand — I want what's good for New York. I want what's good for the country."
He added:
"So, if I had a choice of having him be a bad mayor or horrible mayor, I don't want that. I want him to be a great mayor, and he's certainly got potential. Got great potential."
Earlier Monday on Truth Social, Trump called Gracie Mansion one of his "favorite places in the World," saying he had spent "lots of hours there over the years" with several New York mayors. He said he was "looking forward" to the visit and added: "MAKE NEW YORK CITY GREAT AGAIN!"
Housing and Policy Talks
Political adviser Margo Martin said the two discussed expanding housing in New York City and highlighted Trump's record building housing in the city. Martin posted about the conversation on social media, noting that both leaders spoke about the possibility of increasing housing supply.
Context: Past Tensions
The meeting comes after months of public friction. In August, Trump said his administration was examining whether the federal government could challenge Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax, calling it a "dangerous political 'experiment'" and saying he was "looking to see if the Federal Government has any legal right to avert this disaster."
Last year, Trump called Mamdani a "self-proclaimed New York City Communist" and threatened to withhold federal funding if he was elected. Earlier this year, Mamdani presented Trump with a mock newspaper front page that read "Trump to City: Let's Build" while seeking support for housing initiatives.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also reacted on social media, pointing out the contrast between Trump's public encouragement and criticism from some of his allies.
Photo: IAB Studio / Shutterstock
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