New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s request to send US President Donald Trump a selfie of the two men during an interview on Kimmel’s show in Brooklyn, highlighting the mayor’s approach to his relationship with the president.
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Kimmel welcomed Mamdani to his show as part of a week of broadcasts filmed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The program also featured comedian Pete Davidson and a musical performance by TV on the Radio, marking the 20th anniversary of their album “Return to Cookie Mountain.”
During the interview, Kimmel asked Mamdani about his seemingly friendly relationship with Trump, despite their political disagreements. The host wondered whether the mayor had deliberately tried to charm the president to maintain a working relationship with the White House.
Mamdani laughed at the question, saying the two had significant disagreements but shared a strong affection for New York City. He explained that during their first meeting in November last year, his priority was to focus on issues affecting residents rather than their personal relationship.
The conversation turned to a video of Mamdani standing beside Trump at Gracie Mansion, where the president delivered remarks. Kimmel joked that the mayor’s serious expression made him look like someone who would be difficult to beat at poker.
Mamdani said his attention during such meetings was on securing federal approval for his proposed Sunnyside Yard development in Queens. The project is expected to include approximately 12,000 homes and create around 30,000 jobs.
Asked whether he exchanged text messages with Trump, Mamdani confirmed that they communicated from time to time, mainly about the Sunnyside Yard project and other matters affecting the city.
He also highlighted the situation of Haitian New Yorkers, saying he had discussed their concerns with the president. Mamdani expressed support for efforts to provide stability to Haitian residents following the termination of their Temporary Protected Status.
Kimmel then made his unexpected request, asking Mamdani whether they could send Trump a selfie of the two of them together. The mayor refused, responding humorously: “Jimmy, I love you, but I love housi…” The available transcript cuts off during his reply.
The exchange came amid Kimmel’s return to Brooklyn for his eighth week of shows there. The host said the program had received more than 150,000 ticket requests, reflecting strong interest in the special broadcasts.
Earlier in the show, Kimmel also played clips of television commentators predicting that New York would become more dangerous under Mamdani’s leadership. He cited the city’s reported declines in murders and shootings during the mayor’s first seven months in office.
The interview covered the contrast between Mamdani’s political disagreements with Trump and their communication on housing, employment, and immigration-related concerns. The mayor described his approach as an effort to use direct contact with the president to address issues important to New Yorkers.
