Mamdani holds surprise white house meeting with Trump

Washington: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met unexpectedly with President Donald Trump at the White House Friday, bridging a divide between the democratic socialist mayor and the Republican president amid past clashes.

The unlisted Oval Office session excluded TV cameras. Afterward, Mamdani called it “productive” and expressed optimism about expanding New York City housing.

A photo from the mayor's office showed Trump at the Resolute Desk with two mock New York Daily News front pages: a real 1975 edition headlined “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” and a fabricated one reading “Trump to City: Let’s Build.” The fake page touted Trump backing a “New Era of Housing,” noting “12,000+ Homes; Most Since 1973.”

City Hall spokeswoman Anna Bahr said Mamdani pitched projects that could deliver more housing in select sites than in the past 50 years. Details on scope, locations, or funding remain undisclosed.

The talks also addressed immigration. Post-meeting, Mamdani posted on X about raising concerns over Columbia University student Elaina Aghayeva, detained by ICE that morning. “He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” he wrote. Aghayeva was freed shortly after.

Federal agents entered her Columbia campus residence early Thursday, prompting university criticism. Acting President Claire Shipman accused officials of “misrepresentations to gain entry” by claiming to seek a “missing person.” She urged staff to route law enforcement requests through Public Safety and General Counsel, barring entry to non-public areas without coordination.

DHS told the Columbia Daily Spectator that Aghayeva's visa ended in 2016 for skipping classes, with no active appeals. The building manager and roommate allowed access.

The White House offered no immediate comment. This marks multiple Oval Office meetings between Mamdani and Trump, despite election-season barbs over immigration and Democratic cities. New York relies on federal funds, while Columbia has faced scrutiny over campus access and federal probes.

(Inputs from IANS)