New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew the largest audience of ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' New York residency this week, with clips of his interview circulating widely on Wednesday, according to figures released by ABC. The taped segment focused on the standoff between City Hall and the Trump administration.

Mamdani, who took office earlier this year as the city's first mayor from the Democratic Socialists of America, defended his fare-free bus pilot and rent freeze while trading jokes with Kimmel about federal funding threats. The interview was recorded during Kimmel's temporary New York broadcast run, which ABC promoted heavily across its platforms.

Several clips of the exchange trended on YouTube and X by Wednesday morning, with the mayor's response to a question about a possible government shutdown drawing the most engagement. ABC said the episode ranked among Kimmel's strongest late-night performances in the New York market this season.

The appearance came as the federal government entered a partial shutdown, sharpening the political stakes of Mamdani's remarks. A spokesperson for the mayor's office said the segment reflected his effort to reach voters directly, while conservative commentators criticised the mayor for using network television as a campaign platform.

Kimmel, who returned to the air last year after a suspension dispute with ABC's parent company, has increasingly booked Democratic officials during his New York broadcasts. The interview underscored how late-night television has become a venue for confrontation between progressive city leaders and Washington.