New York Mayor Mamdani and former President Donald Trump met Monday at Gracie Mansion in New York City to discuss a proposal for housing development at Sunnyside Yards. The meeting, which lasted about an hour and included their chiefs of staff, marked a tentative step toward advancing plans for the large-scale project, though no formal commitments were announced.
Mamdani outlined an initiative to construct a platform over the railyard to accommodate approximately 12,000 housing units, along with associated parks, schools, and public amenities. The estimated cost of the project stands at $21 billion and requires federal approval. Both leaders agreed to begin technical discussions between White House and City Hall teams focused on housing and operational aspects.
“We know we have a significant way to go, but these meetings do truly assist in that path,” Mamdani said following the meeting. Trump acknowledged the decades-long conversation around developing Sunnyside Yards and indicated support for incorporating affordable housing into the plan.
The meeting took place as Trump was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly and amid ongoing policy disagreements between the two officials. Mamdani has criticized Trump’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from countries including Haiti, and recently filed a lawsuit challenging a new federal rule that would restrict green card eligibility for individuals receiving public benefits.
“The president and I have both been very frank about the many disagreements that we have, and immigration is one of those places,” Mamdani commented.
The two have met twice before at the White House. Mamdani invited Trump to Gracie Mansion for this meeting, citing the location’s symbolic value and Trump’s personal connection to it. Trump noted that the mansion “sort of feels like a home,” and recalled Mamdani expressing some initial reservations about residing there due to its luxurious nature.
Their relationship has experienced sharp contrasts. During the 2025 mayoral campaign, Trump sharply criticized Mamdani, branding him a “communist” and threatening to withhold funding from New York City. Conversely, Mamdani vowed to be Trump’s “worst nightmare.” Trump supported former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign late in the race. Nonetheless, the two held a notably cordial meeting at the White House shortly after Mamdani’s election victory.
Despite the apparent warming of ties, Trump has remained critical of Mamdani’s administration on several fronts. In April, Trump publicly accused the mayor of “destroying New York” on his social media platform.
Earlier Monday, Mamdani also met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the UN General Assembly events, highlighting the day’s diplomatic engagements.