Though Trump repeatedly maligned Mamdani as a "communist" as he ran for New York City mayor, the president appeared charmed by him after their one-on-one meeting at the White House in November. As he met with Trump, Mamdani urged Trump to consider releasing her. In a phone call not long after their White House meeting, Trump told the mayor that Aghayeva would be released. Mamdani also gave White House chief of staff Susie Wiles a list of four other students targeted by federal authorities and asked for the administration's help with them. "Mayor Mamdani is absolutely right to call on President Trump to release Leqaa Kordia, the beloved daughter of an American citizen," Hamzah Abushaban, Kordia's cousin, said in a statement.

Source: The Telegraph February 27, 2026 07:58 UTC