Overview
- The New York City mayor called the Thursday White House meeting productive and shared a photo of Trump holding a mocked‑up Daily News cover reading “Trump to City: Let’s Build.”
- Mamdani’s team outlined an estimated 12,000‑unit proposal tied to more than $21 billion in federal grants, centered on largely below‑market housing over Queens’ Sunnyside Yards, according to City Hall and Newsday.
- He raised the ICE detention of Columbia student Elmina (also reported as Elaina) Aghayeva during the visit, and Trump later told him by phone she would be released, which the student confirmed.
- The session was not on public schedules and the White House offered no details on any agreements, with the mayor’s office saying the meeting was kept private at the president’s request.
- It was their second face‑to‑face since November, following Trump’s State of the Union remarks noting frequent contact and labeling Mamdani a “nice guy” with “bad policy,” and the mayor also asked for help in four additional student cases.