New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on Monday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
in Brooklyn, where he discussed his surprisingly cordial relationship with President Donald Trump and declined a request from the host to send the president a selfie of the two of them on stage.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie
The appearance took place during the late-night show’s eighth-annual weeklong residency at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House. During the interview, Kimmel questioned how the unlikely political pairing had hit it off, asking if Mamdani had intentionally tried to “charm” the president.
Focus on New York City and Sunnyside Yard
Mamdani told Kimmel that while he and the president have many disagreements, they share a mutual love for New York City. The mayor stated that since their first meeting in November of last year, his goal has been to make their interactions not about us, but about New Yorkers
and to focus on things that could make life in the city easier.
A primary point of connection between the two is the proposed Sunnyside Yard project in Queens. This development would involve building a platform over a rail yard to create an estimated 12,000 new homes and approximately 30,000 jobs. Mamdani noted that when he appeared stone-faced during a rambling speech by Trump at Gracie Mansion, he was actually thinking about the Queens project.
Beyond housing, Mamdani said he and Trump have spoken about Haitian New Yorkers whose Protected Status has ended, emphasizing that they are part of the fabric of this city
and require stability.
Communication and the Selfie Request
Kimmel pressed the mayor on his direct line of communication with the president. Mamdani confirmed that they are in communication from time to time
via text, primarily regarding Sunnyside Yard and delivering for the city. When asked about the president’s texting style—specifically if he uses all caps similar to his Truth Social posts—Mamdani described the punctuation and capitalization as pretty standard.
The interview culminated in Kimmel suggesting that Mamdani put the relationship to the test by texting a selfie of the mayor and host to the president. Mamdani refused the request, telling Kimmel, Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more
.
Brooklyn Residency and Other Guests
The Brooklyn-based episodes, which received over 150,000 ticket requests, featured several other high-profile guests. Along with Mayor Mamdani, the show welcomed comedian Pete Davidson, who promoted his Netflix video podcast and the film How to Rob a Bank.
Other scheduled guests for the week include:
- Paul McCartney
- Billy Crystal
- Howard Stern
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT)
- Mahershala Ali
- John Oliver
- Tom Morello
The musical guests for the residency include De La Soul, Goose, and TV on the Radio, who performed a set celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Return to Cookie Mountain.
Political Context and City Initiatives
Prior to the interview, Kimmel played a montage of pundits and conservative commentators who had predicted that New York City would become “lawless” or “hell on Earth” under Mamdani’s leadership. However, reports indicate that murders and shootings in the city hit record lows during Mamdani’s first seven months in office.
During the segment, Mamdani also highlighted several of his “creative ideas” for the city, including:
- The “Parents’ Night Out” initiative
- The creation of a city-run grocery store
- The construction of new public bathrooms
- Fixing the BQE
Kimmel also referenced a recent joint press conference in Queens where Trump and Mamdani discussed immigration, public safety, infrastructure, and affordable housing. Kimmel mocked the friendly dynamic between the two, describing it as the weirdest buddy road trip movie of all time
.
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