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NYC Mayor Mamdani Declines Kimmel's Trump Selfie Request on Brooklyn Show
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn and refused the host's playful request to send President Trump a selfie of them together, joking that he prioritizes housing over social media antics. During the segment, Mamdani discussed his collaborative relationship with Trump on the Sunnyside Yard development project and other city priorities.
Quick Facts
- Jimmy Kimmel Live filmed a week of shows in Brooklyn
- Mayor Mamdani appeared as a guest on the show
- Kimmel asked Mamdani to send Trump a selfie via text
- Mamdani refused, prioritizing housing development
- Discussion of Mamdani's relationship with President Trump
Jimmy Kimmel Live returned to Brooklyn for a week of shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, marking the host's eighth time filming in the borough where he was born. The premiere episode featured Pete Davidson and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as guests, along with a musical performance by TV on the Radio. Kimmel said the show received over 150,000 ticket requests.
During his segment, Kimmel questioned Mamdani about his relationship with President Trump, describing it as "very friendly." Mamdani clarified that while they have "many disagreements," they share common ground on their love for New York City. He explained that since their first meeting in November of the previous year, his focus has been on leveraging the relationship to benefit New Yorkers rather than the politicians themselves.
The conversation centered on Mamdani's communications with Trump, particularly via text messages. Kimmel showed a video clip of Mamdani standing stone-faced next to Trump at Gracie Mansion while the president delivered a speech, remarking that Mamdani appeared to be a skilled poker player. Mamdani stated that during such interactions, he remains focused on securing federal approval for the Sunnyside Yard project—a proposed development in Queens featuring an estimated 12,000 new homes and creating approximately 30,000 jobs.
When Kimmel asked whether Mamdani would text Trump a selfie of the two of them, the mayor declined with the quip: "Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more." Mamdani also discussed other issues he cares about, including support for Haitian New Yorkers whose Protected Status has ended, as well as city initiatives like public bathrooms and city-run grocery stores. Sources noted that murders and shootings in New York City hit record lows during Mamdani's first seven months in office, contradicting earlier predictions from Fox News commentators that crime would surge under his leadership.
Topics
Why This Matters
The appearance demonstrates NYC's top official publicly engaging with federal leadership on measurable development priorities: the Sunnyside Yard project promises 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs pending federal approval. Mamdani's stated strategy—maintaining functional communication with Trump despite policy disagreements to advance local infrastructure—affects housing supply timelines and employment in Queens. The segment also highlighted New York City crime statistics (murders and shootings at record lows in Mamdani's first seven months) alongside ongoing federal policy changes affecting Haitian residents' Protected Status, both measurable outcomes shaping city demographics and public safety metrics.
Timeline & Sources
Sep 29, 2026
WireMayor Mamdani appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn; declines to send Trump a selfie
Related Signals
Sources
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie of ThemYahooMediaSep 29, 2026
- What about a selfie? Mamdani refuses to send Trump a pic of him and Jimmy KimmelNBC 4 New YorkMediaSep 29, 2026
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie of ThemVarietyMediaSep 29, 2026