WASHINGTON, DC: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared what he was really thinking during the viral moment when he stood stoically next to President Donald Trump.
Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t understand how Zohran Mamdani can openly disagree with Trump on the press while Trump still seems to have a soft spot for him.
Then he asked the real question: What do they actually talk about when they meet?
Mamdani’s answer was surprisingly practical.… pic.twitter.com/LxCvhHLplN
— SatisfyZone @SatisFizonE September 29, 2026
Earlier this month, Mamdani was caught staring into space as Trump went after the media, defending his decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Trump then launched into a lengthy tirade about his economic record and the war in Iran.
The clip quickly went viral, with many wondering what was going through Mamdani’s mind as Trump spoke beside him.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who is taping his show in New York this week, praised Mamdani for “the discipline” he displayed by not reacting as Trump attacked CNN, MS NOW and Politico after banning them from the White House.
Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t understand how Zohran Mamdani can openly disagree with Trump on the press while Trump still seems to have a soft spot for him.Then he asked the real question: What do they actually talk about when they meet?Mamdani’s answer was surprisingly practical.… pic.twitter.com/LxCvhHLplN
“It really is remarkable,” Kimmel said. “I watch that and I go, ‘Okay, this is not a guy I want to play poker with.’”
Mamdani not only defended the media during the joint news conference but also called on Trump to reinstate each of the news organizations he had banned. Yet, as Kimmel pointed out, the criticism did not seem to bother Trump.
“He just seems to like you, and that is it,” Kimmel said. “And that’s all that seems to matter, I guess.”
Rather than reacting to Trump’s remarks, Mamdani said his mind was focused on a major housing project he has been discussing with the administration.
“The number one thing that we’ve been speaking about recently has been Sunnyside Yard, which is this idea, for decades, of building a platform over a rail yard and then building 12,000 homes,” Mamdani said.
“And so, in that moment, you know, that you zoomed in on, I’m just thinking about 12,000 homes, 30,000 jobs, largest housing development since the early 1970s.”
Kimmel offered Mamdani another suggestion that could help seal the deal. “Have you considered calling it Trumpyside Yard?” he cracked. “I haven’t,” Mamdani said.
The exchange highlights the closely scrutinized relationship between Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, and Trump.
Their political positions differ, and they have publicly clashed on several issues. However, the two leaders are also working together on Sunnyside Yards, a Queens development project that Mamdani revived earlier this year.
The cooperation marks an instance of direct engagement between the mayor and the White House, even as Mamdani continues to criticize Trump’s policies, particularly following the recent ban on several news organizations.
Where things stand now
The full interview, which became even more interesting when Kimmel tried to get Mamdani to text Trump live on air, aired during Kimmel’s week of shows taped in New York.
