Mamdani Meets with Trump at the White House, Seeks $21 Billion for New York Housing

Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., in a high-profile bilateral meeting addressing several key urban and social issues.

During the meeting, Mamdani advocated for increased federal support for affordable housing in New York City, requesting about $21 billion in federal funding to help construct approximately 12,000 affordable housing units and associated infrastructure to address the city’s chronic housing shortage.

In addition to housing, Mamdani raised concerns over recent immigration enforcement actions, including the detention of a Columbia University student by federal authorities. Following the discussion, Trump indicated that steps were underway to address those specific concerns, including the student’s imminent release.

This gathering marks the second recent White House engagement between the Democratic-leaning Mamdani and Republican President Trump since Mamdani’s mayoral victory, reflecting a somewhat unusual bipartisan dialogue on major policy areas despite ideological differences. Mamdani posted a photo from the meeting on social media, describing the talks as productive and focused on improving living conditions for New Yorkers.

Trump and Mamdani have previously clashed on policy matters, especially immigration and economic issues, but their interactions at the White House show a willingness on both sides to discuss practical solutions to pressing concerns facing the city and the nation.