Let’s talk about two stories from yesterday. First, via CNBC: Trump praises NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani after White House meeting, shrugs off being called ‘fascist’.
At one point, when Mamdani was asked for the second time about having called Trump a “fascist,” the president gave him cover.
“That’s OK, you can just say yes,” Trump said after Mamdani began to respond. “It’s easier than explaining it.”
Trump also appeared to backtrack on his prior threat to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani became its mayor.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Trump said.
Instead of rehashing their feud, they talked up their areas of agreement on broad issues, especially focusing on lowering the cost of living.
To be honest, at least a part of me expected Mamdani to get the Zelenskyy treatment, but mostly expected it to be a chilly, perfunctory photo op. I was surprised by the degree to which Trump tried to turn on the charm and backed away from the threats. It seems to indicate that he is taking both the electoral message from earlier this month and his poll numbers seriously (at least to a degree).
I draw some level of optimism from Trump’s behavior, although I would caution any over-reading of the event. Still, when I think back to the possible futures I outlined in an earlier post, this is the kind of behavior (along with things like the incompetence with which he is attacking his enemies) that makes me think that Trump’s interest/capacity to truly consolidate an authoriatian regime, as opposed to simply governing as one as much as he can, is limited. I continue to take solace from the lack of interference in the elections this year. None of these observations should be taken as a lack of concern about how he governs and the real, long-term damage he is doing. Rather, his specific actions are data points to be used to assess where we are with signs as to where we are going (see that earlier post for specifics in terms of the options).
I will note a few things about these photos. First, if you have paid any attention to Mamdani’s campaign and his ubiquitous broad smile, you will note how subdued he is below. I am sure that it is all quite deliberate. I would note, too, that he wanted to be photographed under the FDR portrait, clearly also deliberate, as is the lack of a “thumbs up” in the one photo.
Meanwhile, on the same day, we get the following news via the AP: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, former Trump loyalist, says she is resigning from Congress.
I would note that her retirement date is timed to her vestment in the Congressional retirement system.
In terms of replacement, here are the details.
The opening in her district means Republican Gov. Brian Kemp will have to set a special election date within 10 days of Greene’s resignation. Such a special election would fill out the remainder of Greene’s term through January 2027. Those elections could take place before the party primaries in May for the next two-year term.
It is, I would note, a deep red district.
Trump responded with his typical grace and aplomb.
I will note that this demonstrates that Trump is more obsessed with loyalty to himself than to smart politics. MTG had been a key ally, and despite the fact that Trump changed his mind on the very topic for which Greene engaged in treasonous behavior from Trump’s POV (i.e., release of the Epstein files), he continues to attack her.
MTG has been a decidedly negative influence on our national politics, so I am not all sorry to see her leave a position of power, even if she has been more sympathetic of late on things like giving lip service to ACA subsidies and crusading for the release of the Epstein files.
I suspect that we haven’t heard the last from her, although the road forward is probably in some kind of mass media, rather than politics, but we shall see.
Still, and setting aside broader analysis, I did not have “Trump Tries to Charm Mamdani” and “MTG Resigns from Congress” on my Friday Bingo card.
