- President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met again on Monday at Gracie Mansion, marking the third time they have held a high-stakes sit-down, as the city heads into a busy week with the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to begin.
- Affordable housing was on the agenda, with Mamdani pitching a plan for Sunnyside Yard in Queens that includes building 12,000 homes, with half designated as affordable units.
- Trump said the project would require federal involvement, noting it is a “federal oriented job” needing federal approvals and possibly federal money.
- The meeting comes as Mamdani continues to lead a coalition in a lawsuit challenging the administration’s new “public charge” rule, which would make it more difficult for lawful immigrants to get visas or green cards.
- Republican New York City Councilmember Frank Morano said that coming out of the meeting with something tangible for New Yorkers would be a success, even if the two leaders remain far apart politically, and he hopes they can lower the temperature among supporters before the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani convened at Gracie Mansion for their third high-stakes meeting, focusing on affordable housing as the UN General Assembly approaches.
Mamdani emphasized the urgency of housing needs, stating, "What I made the case about is just how critical this is for so many New Yorkers," while proposing a plan for 12,000 homes at Sunnyside Yard, with half designated as affordable units.
Trump acknowledged the project's federal implications, saying, "It's a very, I would say that was a very federal oriented job. You're going to need a lot of federal approvals and probably some federal money to do it..." The meeting also coincides with Mamdani's ongoing legal challenge against the administration's new "public charge" rule, which complicates immigration for lawful residents.
Republican Councilmember Frank Morano remarked on the meeting's significance, stating, "Nobody expects the president and the mayor to emerge from Gracie Mansion as political soulmates..." He expressed hope that collaboration could lower tensions ahead of the midterm elections, suggesting that "if they can get in the habit of working together on issue after issue... it would send such a wonderful message to the country."
“Mamdani pitched a Sunnyside Yard plan for 12,000 homes, half affordable, but Trump said it needs federal approvals and possibly federal money. The meeting also comes as Mamdani leads a lawsuit against the administration's 'public charge' rule, which would restrict visas and green cards for lawful immigrants.”
KUTV
