At the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City, Jimmy Kimmel welcomed Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a special week of Jimmy Kimmel Live shows in Brooklyn. The conversation focused on Mamdani’s communication with President Donald Trump, the proposed Sunnyside Yard project and issues involving Haitian New Yorkers.
The Brief
- Jimmy Kimmel returned to Brooklyn for a week of shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, marking his eighth time filming there.
- Kimmel welcomed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and discussed his relationship with President Trump and the proposed Sunnyside Yard project.
- Mamdani said he and Trump communicate from time to time about Sunnyside Yard and Haitian New Yorkers, while he declined Kimmel’s request to send Trump a selfie.
Kimmel Meets Mamdani in Brooklyn
Kimmel’s Brooklyn run brought the show back to the borough where he was born and spent his early years. The week included several high-profile guests, with Mamdani joining Pete Davidson and musical guest TV On The Radio for the Monday show. ABC listed Mamdani among the scheduled guests for the Sept. 28 episode.
Kimmel said the Brooklyn shows received more than 150,000 ticket requests. During the opening show, he was also heckled by Matt Damon, who wore a Boston Red Sox cap and appeared with Kimmel’s mother and sister. Jon Hamm also joined the comedy segment while dressed as an angry New York City construction worker.
Before Mamdani came to the stage, Kimmel spoke with Davidson, who was promoting The Pete Davidson Show and his upcoming film How to Rob a Bank. The show then moved to Mamdani’s appearance.
Kimmel introduced the mayor with a video montage featuring Fox News commentators who had predicted that New York City would become “terrifying” under Mamdani and that crime would rise sharply. Kimmel said those predictions had not happened, pointing to murders and shootings reaching record lows during Mamdani’s first seven months.
Kimmel then turned the conversation toward Mamdani’s relationship with President Donald Trump. He asked whether the two had quickly developed a friendly relationship or whether Mamdani had intentionally worked to build a connection with the president.
Mamdani said he and Trump have many disagreements. He said they do share a strong attachment to New York City and that, from their first meeting in November of last year, he wanted their conversations to focus on issues that could make life easier for New Yorkers.
Kimmel later showed a video of Mamdani standing beside Trump at Gracie Mansion while the president was speaking. Mamdani remained quiet during the speech, which led Kimmel to joke that he would not want to play poker with him.
Mamdani explained that when Trump is speaking, his focus is on getting federal approval for the proposed Sunnyside Yard project in Queens. The project would include an estimated 12,000 new homes and create about 30,000 jobs.
Kimmel also asked whether Mamdani texts with Trump.
Mamdani said they communicate from time to time, mainly about Sunnyside Yard and ways to deliver for New York City. He also said Trump had mentioned Haitian New Yorkers during their conversations. Mamdani said their Protected Status had ended and that he believes efforts should be made to provide them with stability because they are part of the city.
The conversation ended with another joke from Kimmel. He asked Mamdani if they could send Trump a selfie of the two of them from the show.
Mamdani declined, telling Kimmel that he loved him but loved housing more.
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