Mamdani has received an unexpectedly warm public endorsement from President Donald Trump, who said he wants the New York City mayor to become a “great mayor” and declared that he has “great potential” — a striking change in tone after months of political attacks between the two men.
Donald Trump made the remarks after meeting Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on September 21, during the president’s visit to New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. Their conversation focused on issues including housing, immigration and possible federal cooperation on major development projects.
Donald Trump’s Surprising Praise
Mamdani was once a frequent target of Trump’s political rhetoric, but the president struck a notably different tone during their latest encounter. Asked about his expectations for the mayor, Trump said he wanted Mamdani to succeed because he wants what is good for New York and the country.
“I want him to be a great mayor,” Donald Trump said, adding that Mamdani “certainly got potential” and “great potential.” He further said he hoped he would eventually be able to say that Mamdani had become a great mayor and described him as being “off to a start.”
The exchange is particularly notable because Trump and Mamdani occupy sharply different political camps. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, while Trump has repeatedly used Mamdani as a target in his broader criticism of the Democratic Party.
Housing Brings Them to the Same Table
Mamdani and Donald Trump nevertheless found common ground around New York’s housing crisis. Their discussions included Sunnyside Yards in Queens, where Mamdani has proposed creating a new neighborhood with approximately 12,000 homes and tens of thousands of jobs.
Trump said the project had been discussed for decades and acknowledged that it would require federal approvals and potentially federal funding. Mamdani described the conversation as productive and emphasized the importance of federal partnership in making large-scale housing construction possible.
The cordial meeting did not erase the substantial policy differences between the two politicians. Mamdani said he had expressed strong views to Trump about protecting immigrant New Yorkers, particularly Haitian residents, while Trump continues to pursue immigration policies that Mamdani opposes. Mamdani also publicly defended broad press access at the White House during the joint appearance.
Still, the tone represented a remarkable political shift from confrontation toward cooperation on areas where their interests overlap. Mamdani said he would continue speaking with anyone who can deliver relief to New Yorkers, regardless of political party or disagreements on other issues.
For Trump, the message was equally straightforward: whatever their political differences, he says he wants Mamdani to succeed as mayor. Whether the new cordiality becomes a lasting working relationship or simply reflects a temporary convergence of interests remains to be seen.
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