New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night as Kimmel kicked off a full week of shows from Brooklyn, where much of the conversation centered on one of the more unlikely storylines of Mamdani’s young administration: the unexpectedly cordial relationship he has developed with President Donald Trump.
Kimmel introduced Mamdani with a montage of mostly conservative commentators making dire predictions before his election, including warnings that New York would become “lawless,” be “run into the ground,” and turn into “hell on Earth.”
“Please welcome the end of New York as we know it,” Kimmel joked as Mamdani walked out to a rapturous reception from the show’s Brooklyn audience, with the cheers and applause continuing well after he took his seat.
“I think this means you’re doing a good job,” Kimmel told him.
After some talk about potholes and Mamdani’s “Parents’ Night Out” initiative, Kimmel turned to the mayor’s surprisingly friendly dealings with Trump.
“Did you guys hit it off immediately?” Kimmel asked. “Or is it something you really went into thinking, ‘Okay, I need a relationship with the president of the United States, and I think the best way to do it is charm him?’ How did you do that? And can you help me?”
“Sorry, brother,” Mamdani replied.
Mamdani said that despite his many disagreements with Trump, the two share an affection for New York City.
“From the first meeting in November of last year, I was just thinking, how can we make the meeting not about us but about New Yorkers?” Mamdani said. “Spend that time talking about what could make life in this city that little bit easier.”
Among the subjects they’ve discussed, Mamdani said, is Sunnyside Yard, where he is pushing a proposal that could produce 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs.
Kimmel was particularly intrigued by reports that Mamdani and Trump communicate by text.
“From time to time we’re in communication,” Mamdani confirmed, saying their exchanges have included Sunnyside Yard and other issues affecting New Yorkers.
Kimmel naturally had follow-up questions. Does Trump answer right away? Does he text in all caps, as he often writes on social media?
“Pretty standard,” Mamdani said of the president’s texting style.
“Wow, you’ve really broken through with him,” Kimmel replied.
Kimmel then suggested Mamdani put the relationship to the test by texting Trump a selfie of the two of them from the Kimmel set.
Mamdani wasn’t willing to go quite that far.
“Jimmy, I love you,” he responded, “but I love housing more.”
Watch Kimmel and Mamdani’s full exchange about Trump at the top of this post.
