Washington- Well? Are they still bitter enemies of the two warring populist camps?
US President Donald Trump (79) received the appointment of mayor of New York in the Oval Office – ultra-leftist Zohran Mamdani (34). But anyone expecting trouble or at least a toxic blow at the next press conference simply rubbed their eyes: Why were these two suddenly so addicted to harmony?
“I love New York, that’s where I’m from,” Trump said. “Being Mayor of New York is something big, I want to be like that too!”
45 minutes of bromance
In the past, Trump has called Mamdani a “100 percent crazy communist” and “absolutely crazy.” Mamdani called himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.”
It was a very different picture on Friday: Trump praised Mamdani, calling him a “good guy” who had run a “great election campaign.” What did he like so much about Mamdani? “He was different,” the president said, “he came from nowhere.”
“He has a chance to do something really great,” Trump said. “If he is successful, he will help the federal government, and we will help him.”
The main motive for the meeting: Both love New York and want only the best for the city (Trump: “He doesn’t want crime, I don’t want crime”; or: “He wants more houses and apartments built, so do I”). They played this melody until the record broke.
Trump was asked if he would still like to live in New York with the ultra-left mayor. “Yes, I would, especially after this meeting,” said the US President, “I would feel very comfortable there.” Minutes earlier, a journalist asked about security in the city: Palestinian protestors attacked a synagogue a few days ago. Mamdani avoided it.
Make New York affordable again
Whatever was asked: Mamdani answered, repeatedly, “affordable”. “Mr. Mamdani, you want higher taxes on white people. What does Trump think about that?” Answer: “We talked about how to make New York affordable…”
Mamdani, Trump likes New York, but does New York like Trump?” – Answer: “New York loves an affordable future…”
Do you think Trump is a fascist?
A brief moment of tension resulted from an explosive question: “Mr Mamdani, can you confirm that you think Trump is a fascist?” Mamdani blurted out (“what I said then was…”), but Trump interrupted and patted her arm kindly: “It’s OK, you can say yes. It’s easier than explaining…”
At the end of the event, Trump commented with a proud laugh: “By the way, the press is rushing here! The greatest heads of state in the world always come here, but today we have more journalists than ever before!”
And New Yorkers can breathe a sigh of relief: The US President probably won’t send the National Guard to their city for now…
Mayor of New York under Trump: “Mamdani looks like a schoolgirl”
