Trump and Mamdani Hold White House Meeting Following State of the Union Exchange

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met at the White House on Thursday, November 21, 2025, following a recent exchange during the State of the Union address. The meeting, which was unannounced, occurred after President Trump referenced Mamdani in his speech and the two publicly acknowledged regular communication [NBC New York].

State of the Union Remarks and Initial Response

During his State of the Union address, President Trump criticized Mayor-elect Mamdani’s approach to snow removal in New York City, specifically regarding ID requirements for city jobs. However, he also referred to Mamdani as a “nice guy” [NBC New York]. Mamdani responded to the President’s comments the following day, expressing gratitude for the national attention given to the issue [NBC New York].

Details of the White House Meeting

The meeting took place in the Oval Office, with President Trump accompanied by his chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Mamdani was joined by his chief of staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church [CNN]. According to Mamdani, the conversation focused on New York City and a shared admiration for the city [CNN]. The two also toured the Cabinet Room, posing for a photo in front of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s portrait [CNN].

Previous Collaboration

This meeting followed a prior discussion at the White House in November, where the two discussed topics including housing and the future of New York City [USA Today]. The meeting occurred after a campaign where Trump unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Mamdani from taking office.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specifics of Thursday’s meeting [NBC New York].