Mamdani Rejects Kimmel's Selfie Request, Prioritizing Housing Over Trump

Key points

• Mamdani appeared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' during its eighth annual week-long broadcast at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
• The mayor explained that his relationship with Trump is based on a shared love for New York City and specific development goals, not personal affinity.
• Mamdani confirmed he texts the president 'from time to time' regarding the Sunnyside Yard project, which aims to create 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs.
• The mayor refused Kimmel's request to send a selfie to Trump, citing his priority for housing over political gestures.
• Mamdani also raised the issue of Haitian New Yorkers losing protected status, urging stability for this community.
• Kimmel opened the segment by showing clips of Fox News pundits predicting NYC would become 'terrifying' under Mamdani, noting that crime rates have actually hit record lows.

Background

This appearance follows a series of cordial meetings between Mamdani and Trump, including a recent visit to Gracie Mansion on September 21, 2026, where they discussed housing and immigration. Previous coverage noted that while their relationship is friendly, it is marked by disagreements on issues like public-charge lawsuits and immigrant protections. The 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' show had recently returned to air after a brief suspension following controversial remarks by the host regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Rolling Stone both detailed the interview, highlighting Mamdani's refusal to send a selfie and his focus on the Sunnyside Yard project. Variety emphasized the contrast between Fox News predictions of chaos and the actual record-low crime rates in NYC. The New York Post focused on the 'chummy' nature of the relationship and noted that Mamdani's texts to Trump use normal punctuation, unlike the president's Truth Social posts. UA.News provided a summary of the same events, focusing on the mayor's initiatives like 'Parents' Night Out' and public restrooms. All sources agree that Mamdani prioritizes practical city improvements over political optics, though they differ in their emphasis on the tone of the interaction, with some outlets framing it as a strategic charm offensive and others as a pragmatic necessity.

Why it matters

The interaction underscores the pragmatic nature of local-federal relations in New York City, where housing and infrastructure projects like Sunnyside Yard take precedence over ideological alignment. It also highlights the shifting dynamics of late-night television, as Kimmel's return to Brooklyn and his engagement with political figures like Mamdani signal a renewed focus on local governance and national policy intersections. The refusal to send a selfie serves as a symbolic gesture of Mamdani's commitment to substantive policy over performative politics.

What to watch

The 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' broadcast will continue in Brooklyn for the week, featuring guests such as Paul McCartney, Howard Stern, and Bernie Sanders. Mamdani will likely continue to push for federal approval of the Sunnyside Yard project and advocate for the stability of Haitian New Yorkers. The outcome of these efforts will be closely watched as indicators of the effectiveness of his pragmatic approach to governance.