Why was Donald Trump so solicitous toward New York’s democratic socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani when he visited the White House on Friday? Throughout his mayoral campaign, Trump attacked Mamdani as a Communist who would destroy New York. He even gave Andrew Cuomo a last-minute endorsement.
Mamdani then went to the White House and showed respect for the man he had excoriated during his campaign. Mamdani showed remarkable self-discipline and smiled during the entire meeting. It was a charm offensive.
The two men met in private before welcoming the reporters and TV cameras for a joint press conference. Trump quickly realized that Mamdani was not going to engage in a fight. Mamdani was there to discuss policy and federal help. Trump couldn’t intimidate or fluster Mamdani, who kept his cool and refused to play by Trump’s rules. Trump realized that Mamdani had his number and quickly pivoted, flattering the thirty-four-year-old mayor-elect.
“I feel very confident that he can do a good job,” Trump said.
A few times during their press conference, Trump said he wanted Mamdani to succeed and, incredibly, that the federal government would help him. It remains to be seen what that actually means, if anything. Will the US Transportation Department reverse its opposition to congestion pricing? Will HUD provide New York City with more housing subsidies? Will the Department of Commerce or Department of Agriculture offer New York City funding for a pilot program to create city-owned grocery stores in food deserts?
Trump isn’t likely to do much for New York. But on Friday, he wanted to be seen as Mamdani’s ally, not his enemy. Why?
Trump’s friendly meeting with Mamdani is rooted in a combination of both psychology and politics, although it’s sometimes difficult to know where each begins and ends. A good politician, Mamdani “read the room.” He understood Trump’s weaknesses and took advantage of them. Of course, he couldn’t know for sure how Trump…
Auteur: Peter Dreier
