False Claims Circulate About NYC Mayor-Elect’s Plans for Trump Tower

Claims that New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani plans to convert Trump Tower into a homeless shelter are unfounded, according to a comprehensive review of official statements and campaign materials. The rumor, which began circulating on social media platforms in late October 2025, has no basis in the incoming administration’s announced policies or public communications.

The misinformation first appeared as speculative commentary in a Facebook post dated October 22, 2025, before evolving into what was presented as breaking news on X (formerly Twitter) by November 6. One viral post proclaimed: “🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING — Mamdani Plans To Convert Trump Tower into Homeless Shelter.” However, no credible media organizations have reported such a plan, and neither Mamdani nor his team have made any statements suggesting this course of action.

A thorough examination of Mamdani’s campaign platform reveals no mention of Trump Tower or any proposals to repurpose existing residential or mixed-use buildings as homeless shelters. In fact, a keyword search of his official campaign website shows the word “shelter” appears only once, in an entirely different context than what is claimed in the viral posts.

The misinformation appears to be part of a pattern of fabricated claims targeting newly elected officials. Such false narratives often gain traction in the period between election results and inauguration, when detailed policy implementations have yet to be announced and public curiosity about new leadership is high.

Further undermining the claim’s credibility, a review of Mamdani’s X account shows he has mentioned Trump Tower only twice during his campaign—both references were made in contexts completely unrelated to housing policy or homeless services. In one video statement that briefly referenced the building, Mamdani explicitly clarified he was addressing the candidacy of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was also running for mayor, not discussing Donald Trump or his properties.

Adding to the confusion, the image accompanying one widely shared post didn’t even show Trump Tower. Instead, it featured Trump International Hotel, an entirely different property located across Central Park on Manhattan’s West Side. This factual error further demonstrates the lack of diligence behind the claim.

The spread of this misinformation comes at a sensitive time for New York City, which continues to face significant housing challenges and homelessness issues. According to recent data from the Coalition for the Homeless, approximately 86,000 people sleep in the city’s municipal shelter system each night, with thousands more unsheltered. The mayor-elect has outlined housing policy proposals, but converting Trump Tower is not among them.

Trump Tower, located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, remains one of the most recognizable properties in the Trump Organization’s portfolio. The 58-story mixed-use skyscraper contains luxury condominiums, office space, and retail outlets. Any attempt to convert such a property would involve complex legal and logistical challenges beyond the scope of what Mamdani’s platform has proposed for addressing homelessness.

As Mamdani prepares to take office, his actual housing proposals focus on expanding affordable housing construction, strengthening tenant protections, and improving the existing shelter system—conventional policy approaches that bear no resemblance to the viral claim circulating online.

Media literacy experts warn that the transition period between administrations is particularly vulnerable to misinformation, as public anticipation and political tensions create fertile ground for unsubstantiated rumors to spread rapidly across social platforms.