NYC Mayor Mamdani Says ICE Must Be Abolished Despite Cordial Ties With Trump

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has clarified the nature of his relationship with President Donald Trump in a recent Rolling Stone interview, acknowledging that despite their personal rapport, they remain fundamentally divided on immigration enforcement. Mamdani’s comments come months after his widely publicized White House meeting with Trump, which observers on both sides characterized as surprisingly productive and cordial.

The mayor emphasized that his connection with the president centers on their shared attachment to New York City rather than policy alignment. “I think for all of the many disagreements that the president and I have, we have one thing in common, which is a love of this place,” Mamdani stated, noting that their conversations consistently return to this common ground.

When pressed on whether maintaining Trump’s goodwill protects New York from intensive immigration enforcement actions, Mamdani rejected the premise that civility requires compromise on principle. He described his approach as rooted in direct communication, stating he has told Trump plainly that he views ICE as “a cruel agency that does nothing to serve the interests of public safety.”

Mamdani reiterated his position that the federal immigration enforcement agency should cease operations entirely. “I’ve spoken about how I think that ICE should be abolished. We should have an immigration system that has humanity at the heart of it,” the mayor said, underscoring his commitment to transforming how America handles immigration policy.