Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Trump held a noteworthy meeting in New York City on Monday. This was their third meeting but the first at Gracie Mansion. Last November, after the mayoral election, Mamdani visited Trump at the White House and again in February. In that meeting, the mayor pitched a significant housing project in Queens, needing substantial federal aid. A mock-up of a Daily News front page declared “Trump To City: Let’s Build.”
On Monday, they discussed affordable housing again, though details were scarce. They also talked about immigration without specifics. The key takeaway is their ongoing dialogue about bettering the lives of New Yorkers, a consistent theme in their meetings.
Following the meeting, Mamdani and Trump stood together at a news conference. The mayor updated on the Queens housing proposal, aiming to build the world’s largest rail deck over Amtrak’s Sunnyside Yard in Queens with 12,000 housing units on top. This project was also proposed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.
We spoke about Sunnyside Yards,Mamdani stated.It’s a pleasure that today we agreed to elevate our conversation between City Hall’s housing and operations team and the White House team. We’re discussing 12,000 homes, 30,000 jobs.
Trump acknowledged the project’s federal nature, requiring numerous approvals and potentially federal funding. It has always been a great location,
Trump noted.
Carlo Scissura, a former member of the first Sunnyside Yards task force, praised the collaboration. The mayor and president coming together on this is brilliant,
said Scissura. He noted that few projects match this 200-plus-acre development’s potential impact.
However, not everyone supports the idea. City Councilwoman Julie Won, representing the rail yard district, questioned the project’s priorities. What are we really talking about here? Do we want to solve the housing crisis now? And also the healthcare crisis?
Won asked.
The meeting occurred during the week of the United Nations General Assembly. Tuesday, Trump was scheduled to speak about the war with Iran, a peace plan for Gaza, and tackling global issues. He was also set to meet leaders from the UK, Japan, Venezuela, and Ukraine. A meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t occur due to scheduling conflicts, as Netanyahu was arriving after Trump’s departure.