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Mamdani declines Kimmel’s request to text Trump a selfie together
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn and declined the host's humorous request to text President Trump a selfie of them together, joking that he loved "housing more". The exchange highlighted Mamdani's pragmatic approach to his working relationship with Trump, which has attracted media speculation about whether the two had developed an unusually friendly bond.
Mamdani clarified that whilst he and Trump disagree on many issues, they share a commitment to New York City and communicate primarily regarding federal approval for the Sunnyside Yard development in Queens, which would create approximately 12,000 new homes and 30,000 jobs. He also emphasised his concern for Haitian New Yorkers who have lost their Protected Status, stating he believes the city must provide them with stability. The appearance came during Kimmel's eighth broadcast week from Brooklyn, which attracted over 150,000 ticket requests.
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In short
- Mayor Mamdani refused Kimmel's request to text Trump a selfie
- Focus on policy work over performative political gestures
- Emphasises shared NYC commitment despite policy disagreements with Trump
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Record-low crime statistics under Mayor Mamdani's administration have contradicted earlier media predictions that his tenure would bring disorder to New York City.
- 2 months ago Mamdani has clarified that his relationship with Trump, despite media speculation about a personal bond, remains focused on practical collaboration over New York development projects and support for vulnerable residents.
- 2 months ago Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn, declining an invitation to text President Trump a selfie whilst reaffirming his focus on housing development as his priority.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A mayor's chief duty is to advance his city's interests through pragmatic engagement with all levels of government, regardless of party. Securing federal approval for the Sunnyside Yard development, which would create 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs, demonstrates how cooperation across party lines directly benefits residents in addressing housing shortages and unemployment. Democratic leaders can reasonably work with opposing administrations on matters of genuine local benefit without abandoning their principles.
The case against
Democratic leaders bear a responsibility to maintain distinct moral and political boundaries when administrations implement policies that harm vulnerable communities, such as ending immigration protections for Haitian New Yorkers. An overly pragmatic or friendly-seeming relationship risks normalising positions fundamentally at odds with progressive values, and the media speculation about an unusually friendly bond suggests such cooperation may compromise the clarity needed to challenge harmful policies. Political distance and consistent opposition matter when administrations target vulnerable populations.
Explained simply
Zohran Mamdani is a New York politician who recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night television show to discuss his dealings with President Donald Trump. Kimmel asked whether the two had developed a friendly relationship and whether Mamdani could help him make a personal connection with the president.
Mamdani's interactions with Trump centre on a major development project called Sunnyside Yard in Queens, which would provide approximately 12,000 new homes and create around 30,000 jobs if approved. Federal approval is needed for the project, meaning Trump's administration has considerable influence over its future. Mamdani has also raised concerns about stability for Haitian New Yorkers whose protected immigration status recently ended.
When Kimmel asked Mamdani to send Trump a selfie of the two of them together as a friendly gesture, Mamdani declined. He explained that his priority was securing tangible benefits for New Yorkers—such as housing and jobs—rather than cultivating a personal relationship with the president through informal gestures.
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Originally published by Variety as “Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie of Them”.