In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump and New York's progressive Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani have found an unexpected area of agreement: overhauling New York City's complex and often criticized zoning laws. The topic emerged during a private meeting at the White House last fall, revealing a shared interest that transcends their stark political differences.
The conversation, which has reportedly continued over text messages, centers on the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP. For Mamdani, reform is a path to creating more affordable housing. For Trump, it's a chance to address a personal grievance dating back to his days as a real estate developer in Manhattan.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani discussed reforming the city's land use procedure (ULURP) in a private meeting.
- Trump, drawing on his developer background, expressed strong support for overhauling a system he has long viewed as a barrier to construction.
- Mamdani aims to streamline the process to accelerate the development of affordable housing in the city.
- The unlikely dialogue highlights a potential area of cooperation between the politically opposed leaders.
An Unlikely Alliance in the Oval Office
When the 34-year-old democratic socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump on November 21, 2025, few expected a warm exchange. Mamdani's campaign often positioned him as a direct opponent to the president's agenda, and Trump has frequently targeted blue cities with threats of funding cuts.
However, sources with direct knowledge of the meeting revealed that the tone shifted when Mamdani brought up New York City's zoning regulations. The president reportedly became animated, sharing his long-held desire to see the system overhauled. According to one individual familiar with the private discussion, Trump told the mayor-elect, "If you can get that done, that’d be amazing, I wanted this to happen for years."
This common ground on a granular piece of municipal policy suggests a more complex relationship than their public personas would indicate. The two have continued to discuss ULURP via text message, though the specific details of their ongoing conversations remain private.
What is ULURP?
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure is New York City's public review process for all proposed land use changes. Any project requiring significant zoning modifications must gain approval from multiple bodies, including the local community board, the borough president, the City Planning Commission, and finally, the City Council. While officially designed to take about seven months, the preparatory work and subsequent reviews can delay projects for many years.
A Developer's Decades-Old Grudge
President Trump's interest in ULURP is not new; it is deeply rooted in his past as a New York real estate magnate. His frustration with the process is well-documented, particularly concerning his ambitious plans in the 1980s and 1990s for the West Side Yards in Manhattan.
Barbara Res, a former top construction executive at the Trump Organization, recalled Trump's open disdain for the review system. His initial vision for the site was "Television City," a massive development featuring a 150-story skyscraper. However, the project faced intense community opposition, channeled through the ULURP process, regarding its environmental impact and scale.
"He hated ULURP because he saw it as anti-development, as anti-business and as what destroyed his plan," said Res, who has been a critic of the president since 2016.
Ultimately, the pushback forced a significant downsizing of the project, leaving a lasting impression on the future president. This history provides crucial context for his enthusiastic response to Mamdani's reform proposal.
The Push for Housing and the Cost of Delay
While Trump's motivation may be personal, Mayor-elect Mamdani's focus is on addressing New York's severe affordable housing crisis. Proponents of reform argue that the current ULURP system creates bureaucratic hurdles that stifle development, increase costs, and delay the construction of necessary housing.
The lengthy and unpredictable nature of the process can make development financially unfeasible for many. New York developer Bruce Teitelbaum, who served as chief of staff under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, provides a stark example. He noted that his project to build an 1,100-apartment complex in Harlem was entangled in the ULURP process for nearly a decade.
According to Teitelbaum, the current system "adds enormous expense, time, risk, uncertainty and, without question, delays projects for years — which helps explain why we have a housing crisis."
By simplifying this procedure, Mamdani's administration hopes to make it "a lot easier to build at scale," a sentiment the president reportedly echoed in their meeting. Any changes to ULURP would require legislative action from the New York City Council.
Motive, Strategy, and Future Implications
The alignment between Trump and Mamdani naturally raises questions about motive. While the president's personal history is a clear factor, some speculate about potential financial benefits for his family's business. The Trump Organization, now managed by his sons, could benefit from a more streamlined development process if it decides to pursue new projects in the city.
Recent activities suggest the company remains interested in the New York market. It unsuccessfully attempted to regain the contract for Central Park's Wollman Rink and benefited from a state deal allowing a casino on its Bronx golf course, a deal worth a reported $150 million.
For Mamdani, engaging with the president on an issue he understands intimately could be a strategic move. It offers a way to build a functional relationship with a White House that could otherwise be hostile to New York's interests. By finding this sliver of common ground, the mayor-elect may be navigating a path to protect the city from punitive federal actions while pursuing a key policy goal.
Despite their political sparring, President Trump has publicly acknowledged a positive rapport. In a recent WABC radio appearance, he spoke about his meetings with Mamdani.
"It’s politics, it’s a nasty world... But I got along very well with him, we had some good meetings, some good talks," Trump said.
This unusual dialogue over zoning laws provides a fascinating glimpse into how governance can sometimes forge partnerships in the most unexpected places, potentially shaping the future of New York City's landscape for years to come.
