President Donald Trump met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday for what was described as a cordial and productive meeting. During the encounter, Trump expressed hope that Mamdani would become a “great” mayor, despite previously criticizing his policies. The meeting came amid controversy over Trump's ban of certain media outlets from the White House, which he defended by arguing that these outlets do not treat him fairly.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 21, US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met at Gracie Mansion, discussing various issues including immigration enforcement and a major housing project. Despite previous criticism from Trump, the meeting was cordial with both acknowledging press coverage disparities but welcoming all media outlets to their event. Trump defended his decision to ban certain media from the White House by saying, "They never boycott me," pointing out the presence of many journalists at Gracie Mansion. Mamdani emphasized inclusivity for all members of the press and highlighted the need for federal support on housing initiatives like the Sunnyside Yards redevelopment project, which aims to create 12,000 homes and generate 30,000 jobs in New York City. This unexpected alliance between Trump and Mamdani has confused observers across the political spectrum but complicates Republican messaging ahead of the midterms.
Written for “Trump and Mamdani Meeting” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 29 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his affable overtures toward New York City’s first socialist mayor, expressing hope that Zohran Mamdani would be a “great” leader.
asserted
Mamdani → renew → hope
Trump, a New York City native, met with Mamdani in a closed-door meeting at Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s personal residence, this week.
asserted
Trump → meet → Mansion
In a press conference afterward, the pair exchanged cordial words, reiterating the surprising relationship they have established in their third face-to-face meeting since Mamdani rose to power in the country’s largest city last year.
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Mamdani → exchange → city
Mamdani shared a photo of Monday’s encounter, describing it as a “productive meeting with the President today at Gracie Mansion,” in a post to X.
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Mamdani → share → X.
In his appearance alongside the mayor, Trump said Mamdani has “great potential.”
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Mamdani → say → potential
“I’ve seen it [Gracie Mansion] with numerous different mayors,” the president reflected.
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president → see → mayors
So hopefully, you’re going to be a great one.
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you → go → ?
I’ll be able to say you’re going to be a great one, and you’re off to a start.”
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you → say → start
“You have to understand.
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You → have → ?
I want what’s good for New York.
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what → want → York
I want what’s good for the country.
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what → want → country
So, if I had a choice of having him be a bad mayor or horrible mayor, I don’t want that,” Trump continued.
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Trump → have → that
“I want him to be a great mayor, and he’s certainly got potential, got great potential.”
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he → want → potential
Trump’s encounter with Mamdani marked the start of a busy week for the president in New York, including a Tuesday speech at the U.N. General Assembly.
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encounter → mark → Assembly
During the Gracie Mansion press conference, Trump was pressed on his decision to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House, which has sparked a legal battle on the grounds that First Amendment rights to a free press are being violated.
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rights → press → press
The president said he made the move because of his belief that the media does not treat him fairly, arguing, “The press also has an obligation.”
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press → say → obligation
“You know, I won in a landslide.
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I → know → landslide
I won the election in a landslide.
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I → win → landslide
I’ve done great things.
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I → do → things
I’ve done a lot of great things.
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I → do → things
I’ve settled eight wars.
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I → settle → wars
We have the best economic numbers for the country in the history of our country.
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We → have → country
We have $21 trillion pouring in — the biggest number ever,” the president claimed.
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president → have → ?
We’ve done so well. …
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We → do → ?
They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.
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They → go → weapon
Let me just put it that way: They’re not doing well. …
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They → let → it
In fact, I have meetings on it today.
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I → have → it
They’re doing very poorly.”
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They → do → ?
“You would think that an outlet would write at least reasonably well, but never,” Trump lamented.
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Trump → think → ?
“I never get anything positive.
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I → get → anything
It’s always negative.”
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It → ’ → ?
Regarding Mamdani, Trump has pivoted between decrying the socialist mayor as someone who is “DESTROYING New York” and offering olive branches to New York City’s leader.
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who → regard → leader
“The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually,” Trump said in his State of the Union address in February.
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Trump → think → February
“I speak to him a lot.
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I → speak → him
The Aporia
