Zohran Mamdani rejected a Trump selfie during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, politely denying the host’s request to send President Donald Trump a picture of the pair. The New York City mayor had a concise explanation: “Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more.” Apparently, municipal policy outranks late-night mischief.
The exchange came as Jimmy Kimmel brought his show back to Brooklyn for a week of broadcasts from the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It marked the eighth time Kimmel had filmed the programme in the borough where he was born and spent his early childhood.
Kimmel said the Brooklyn run attracted more than 150,000 ticket requests. The week’s guest list included Howard Stern, Billy Crystal, Paul McCartney and Senator Bernie Sanders, while the opening show featured Mamdani, Pete Davidson and a performance by TV on the Radio.
Kimmel’s Brooklyn opening brought several interruptions
TV on the Radio’s appearance celebrated the 20th anniversary of the band’s acclaimed album Return to Cookie Mountain. Before Mamdani arrived, Davidson discussed his Netflix video podcast, The Pete Davidson Show, and his forthcoming film, How to Rob a Bank.
The episode also included the usual carefully arranged disorder. Matt Damon heckled Kimmel while wearing a Boston Red Sox cap on the eve of the Yankees and Red Sox American League Wild Card Series. Kimmel’s mother and sister joined Damon, while Jon Hamm appeared dressed as an irritated New York City construction worker.
No Oscar-winning actor exposed himself to Kimmel in a bathroom this time, so the programme had to rely on baseball rivalry, family participation and Hamm in workwear. Television endured.
Kimmel introduced Mamdani with a montage of Fox News commentators predicting that New York would become “terrifying” under his administration and that crime would go “through the roof.” Those forecasts did not survive contact with the figures. Murders and shootings reached record lows during Mamdani’s first seven months in office.
Why does Mamdani communicate with Trump?
Kimmel asked about the mayor’s unexpectedly cordial relationship with Trump, wondering whether they had connected immediately or whether Mamdani had deliberately tried to charm the president.
“Sorry brother,” Mamdani replied with a laugh. He said the two men had many disagreements but shared an affection for New York City. According to the mayor, he entered their first meeting in November of the previous year determined to keep the discussion focused on residents rather than their political differences.
“How can we spend that time talking about the things that can make life in the city a little bit easier,” Mamdani said, describing his approach.
Kimmel then showed footage of Mamdani standing beside Trump at Gracie Mansion while the president delivered a lengthy speech. The camera moved in on the mayor, who remained expressionless throughout.
“This is not a guy I’d want to play poker with,” Kimmel said of Mamdani’s fixed expression.
The mayor explained that he was not contemplating cards or television reaction shots. He was thinking about securing federal approval for Sunnyside Yard, a proposed development in Queens expected to provide roughly 12,000 homes and create about 30,000 jobs.
Housing and Haitian New Yorkers remain the focus
Asked whether he exchanged text messages with Trump, Mamdani confirmed that they communicated occasionally. He said those conversations concerned Sunnyside Yard and practical ways the federal government and City Hall could deliver results for New York.
Mamdani also raised the situation facing Haitian New Yorkers after the end of their Temporary Protected Status. He said the community needed stability and described Haitian residents as part of the fabric of the city.
“One of the other things the president mentioned that we spoke about, that I care very deeply about, is Haitian New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “They’ve had their Protected Status ended, and I really believe we need to do whatever we can so they have stability.”
Kimmel then proposed using the mayor’s presidential text access for a less policy-heavy purpose. He asked whether they could take a selfie together and send it to Trump immediately.
Mamdani declined, choosing housing policy over becoming an accessory to Kimmel’s group chat. It was not the answer the host wanted, but it was difficult to accuse the mayor of losing focus.
