Trump Invites Mayor Mamdani to White House After Gracie Mansion Meeting

Politics29 sourcesSep 22, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 55/100

The Story

President Donald Trump invited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to visit the White House to “see how I work” after their meeting at Gracie Mansion on Monday, September 21, 2026.

A lip reader, Jeremy Freeman, revealed this offer. The 90-minute meeting focused on immigration and a Queens housing project. Trump told reporters he hoped Mamdani would become a great mayor. Mamdani praised Trump's commitment to New York. The two men agreed to deepen discussions over a plan for 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs in Sunnyside Yard, Queens.

Trump noted such a project would require federal approvals and money. Mamdani asked Trump “on the spot” to join his news conference, and Trump agreed. This was their third public meeting. Their first meeting was in November of last year at the White House when Mamdani was mayor-elect. The second was in February, also at the White House.

Trump was in New York City ahead of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Before Mamdani took office in January, Trump called him “my little communist” and a “total nut job.” Trump also called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and threatened him with arrest. Mamdani accused Trump of pursuing a “fascist agenda” and called him a “despot.”

After their first Oval Office meeting last November, Mamdani affirmed he still considered Trump a fascist, with Trump's permission. Trump later softened his stance, calling Mamdani “charming” and “better looking in person.” Mamdani stated he would work with anyone willing to reduce New Yorkers’ cost of living. Mamdani expressed “very strong opinions about how we can keep New Yorkers safe” when asked about Trump's culling of Temporary Protected Status for immigrants as part of mass deportation plans.

Mamdani also said all members of the press should be allowed White House access, moments before Trump defended his decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer expressed anger at Trump for praising Mamdani, calling it a “profane eruption.” Republicans had hoped to cast Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as a villain in an election six weeks away.

What they agree on

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met at Gracie Mansion on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The meeting focused on immigration and a proposed housing project in Sunnyside Yard, Queens, which could include 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs.
Trump praised Mamdani, stating he wanted him to be a "great mayor" and that he had "great potential."
This was the third in-person meeting between Trump and Mamdani, following previous meetings in November and February at the White House.
Trump was in New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

Where they split

Newsweek frames the meeting as an "oddly New York peace treaty" and questions if the "Trump-Mamdani friendship" demonstrates the unseriousness of political language.
Raw Story and The Daily Beast emphasize the "MAGA eruption" and "profane" anger from far-right figures like Laura Loomer over Trump's praise for Mamdani.
Politico Europe focuses on Jonathan Martin's analysis that Trump "wants to be with the winner" and does not care about Mamdani's politics, seeing him as "hot" and "the new item."
RedState and IJR (Independent Journal Review) highlight Trump's interaction with the press, including his defense of the White House press ban and his claim that networks "never boycott me."