--- title: "Mayor Mamdani declines Trump selfie request on Jimmy Kimmel Live" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live" category: "Media" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-29T13:46:12.212Z" source_reported: "2026-09-29T13:25:48.000Z" updated: "2026-09-29T13:46:12.212Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-29T13:30:40.629639+00:00" --- # Mayor Mamdani declines Trump selfie request on Jimmy Kimmel Live *New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and discussed his work on housing projects.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 11 digests provide corroboration, but no named sources or documents were cited. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reports clearly separate fact from comment and provide specific details, but lack quotes from those affected or responsible. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and presentation are measured, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on 28 September. - During the show, Jimmy Kimmel asked Mamdani to send a selfie of them to President Donald Trump. - Mamdani refused the request, saying, 'Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more.' - Mamdani also discussed the Sunnyside Yard project, which he said would create 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs. Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared as a guest on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on 28 September. During the interview, host Jimmy Kimmel asked Mamdani if he would send a selfie of himself and Kimmel to President Donald Trump. Mamdani declined the request, stating, 'Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more.' Mamdani also spoke about his work on the Sunnyside Yard project, describing it as a development that would include 12,000 new homes and create 30,000 jobs. ## Disagreement on Mamdani's prior relationship with Trump HuffPost reported that Mamdani defended the media during a joint news conference with Trump and called on news organizations banned by Trump. Variety stated that Kimmel asked Mamdani about his 'unexpected' and 'friendly' relationship with Trump, to which Mamdani replied that he and the president have disagreements but agree on the city. The Statesman digest noted that the interview covered how the Mamdani-Trump bond began. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated digests mention the specific number of jobs Mamdani stated the Sunnyside Yard project would create. The right-rated digests did not mention Mamdani's comments on defending the media or his remarks regarding Haitian New Yorkers' protected status. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 64% (7) - Centre: 18% (2) - Right: 18% (2) 2 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-29T13:30:40.629639+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-29T14:15:36.995Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports from HuffPost and Variety, along with digests from The Independent, The Independent (US), NBC New York, and NY Daily News, focused on Mamdani's refusal to send a selfie to Trump and his stated reason. HuffPost and Variety, which provided full reports, detailed Mamdani's discussion of the Sunnyside Yard project, with HuffPost stating it would feature 12,000 homes and create 30,000 jobs, and Variety estimating 12,000 new homes and approximately 30,000 jobs. HuffPost also noted Mamdani defended the media during a press conference with Trump. Variety mentioned Mamdani's comments on Haitian New Yorkers' protected status. NBC New York's digest mentioned Mamdani discussing his relationship with the president and a 'sewer mystery'. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports from The Statesman and Internewscast highlighted Mamdani's refusal of the selfie request and his reasoning. The Statesman digest specifically mentioned Mamdani's quote and the beginning of his bond with Trump. Internewscast's digest focused on Mamdani revealing why he gets along with Trump. ### Right - Right-rated reports from TheMix.net and New York Post focused on Mamdani's appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and his refusal of the selfie request. TheMix.net digest noted Mamdani denied Kimmel's request for a selfie to send to Donald Trump. The New York Post digest stated Mamdani was set to join 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' for the NYC broadcast. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 4 - high: 5 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [TheMix.net](https://themix.net/celebrity/zohran-mamdani-denies-jimmy-kimmel-selfie-donald-trump) — Zohran Mamdani Denies Jimmy Kimmel’s Request for a Selfie to Send to Donald Trump - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/tv/culture/mamdani-kimmel-selfie-trump-video-b3058161.html) — Mamdani refuses request to send Trump a selfie of him and Kimmel - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/tv/culture/mamdani-kimmel-selfie-trump-video-b3058161.html) — Mamdani refuses request to send Trump a selfie of him and Kimmel - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/mamdani_n_6abb7102e4b00588e1d653b6) — Zohran Mamdani Reveals What Was Really On His Mind During Viral Moment Next To Trump - [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/news/local/zohran-mamdani-jimmy-kimmel-live/6553298) — What about a selfie? Mamdani refuses to send Trump a pic of him and Jimmy Kimmel - [American Kahani](https://americankahani.com/community/mayor-mamdani-gets-warm-brooklyn-welcome-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-trades-quips-with-host) — Mayor Mamdani Gets Warm Brooklyn Welcome on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ Trades Quips With Host - [The Statesman](https://thestatesman.com/entertainment/jimmy-i-love-you-but-zohran-mamdani-shuts-down-kimmels-plan-to-text-donald-trump-a-selfie-of-them-1503644489.html) — 'Jimmy, I love you, but...': Zohran Mamdani shuts down Kimmel's plan to text Donald Trump a selfie of them - [RollingStone](https://rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/zohran-mamdani-jimmy-kimmel-donald-trump-selfie-1235633573) — Zohran Mamdani Refuses to Text Trump a Selfie of Him and Jimmy Kimmel - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/nyc-mayor-mamdani-reveals-why-he-gets-along-with-trump-on-kimmel) — NYC Mayor Mamdani Reveals Why He Gets Along With Trump on Kimmel - [LiFO](https://lifo.gr/now/media/o-zohran-mamntani-arnithike-na-steilei-selfie-me-ton-jimmy-kimmel-ston-tramp-agapo) — Zohran Mamdani Refuses to Send Selfie with Jimmy Kimmel to Trump: “I Love Housing More” - [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/zohran-mamdani-jimmy-kimmel-live-donald-trump-selfie-text-1236877861) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses Jimmy Kimmel’s Request to Text Trump a Selfie of Them - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/28/us-news/mamdani-set-to-join-jimmy-kimmel-live-for-nyc-broadcast-on-monday) — Mamdani set to join ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for NYC-broadcast on Monday - [NY Daily News](https://nydailynews.com/2026/09/28/mayor-mamdani-jimmy-kimmel-live) — Mayor Mamdani to join ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in Brooklyn after ‘SNL’ spoof ## Questions **What did Mayor Zohran Mamdani say when asked to send a selfie to Donald Trump?** Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined Jimmy Kimmel's request to send a selfie of them to President Donald Trump. He responded by saying, 'Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more,' indicating his priority was on housing development. **What is the Sunnyside Yard project?** The Sunnyside Yard project is a development discussed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'. He stated it would involve building a platform over a rail yard to create approximately 12,000 new homes and an estimated 30,000 jobs. **Did Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump have a friendly relationship?** Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and addressed his relationship with President Donald Trump. While Mamdani acknowledged they have disagreements, he stated they share a common affection for New York City and that their communication often focuses on city matters like the Sunnyside Yard project. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Mayor Mamdani declines Trump selfie request on Jimmy Kimmel Live", https://mediabias.news/media/mayor-mamdani-declines-trump-selfie-request-on-jimmy-kimmel-live