Analysis reveals familiar patterns in Trump’s approach to the mayor-elect
The Predictable Unpredictability of Presidential Praise
When President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani emerged from their White House meeting radiating unexpected warmth, political observers expressed shock. How could two men who had spent months hurling insults–Trump calling Mamdani a “communist lunatic,” Mamdani labeling Trump a “fascist”–suddenly appear as allies? Yet for those familiar with Trump’s behavioral patterns, the friendly meeting was entirely predictable, revealing consistent motivations that have shaped his political career.
Political journalist Chris Cillizza, in his independent newsletter, outlined three core principles that explain Trump’s apparent about-face: his attraction to winners, his fascination with celebrities, and his desire to subvert expectations. These patterns, established long before Trump’s political career through his decades in business and reality television, provide a roadmap for understanding why he lavished praise on a self-described democratic socialist who had repeatedly criticized him as a threat to democracy.
The Winner’s Circle: Trump’s Fundamental Value System
Trump’s first and perhaps most important criterion for respect centers on success. He gravitates toward people who win, regardless of their ideological positions or whether they support his agenda. This pattern reflects Trump’s own self-conception as a winner and his belief that success creates a kind of reflected glory for those associated with winners.
Mamdani’s political accomplishments check every box in Trump’s winner framework. The 34-year-old defeated Andrew Cuomo–a member of New York’s most powerful Democratic dynasty–twice: first in a contentious Democratic primary, then again in the general election after Cuomo ran as an independent with Trump’s explicit endorsement. This double victory over an established political family resonates with Trump’s own narrative of defeating political dynasties, first in 2016 against the Clinton machine and establishment Republicans, then in his political comeback.
The magnitude of Mamdani’s upset cannot be overstated. As a two-and-a-half-term state Assembly member from Queens with no executive experience, he overcame massive financial disadvantages, establishment opposition, and a media environment largely skeptical of his progressive platform. His grassroots campaign, powered by volunteers and small-dollar donations, defeated well-funded opponents with deep connections to Democratic power brokers. In Trump’s worldview, such an achievement demands respect regardless of policy differences.
This winner-focused mentality explains many of Trump’s seemingly contradictory relationships. Throughout his career, he has maintained friendships with ideological opponents, from Democrats like the Clintons before his political career to celebrity critics during his presidency. What matters to Trump is not ideological purity but the winner/loser binary that he applies to nearly every human interaction.
Celebrity and Star Power: Trump’s Native Habitat
Trump’s formative experiences in entertainment–from his New York real estate celebrity to his starring role on “The Apprentice”–created a worldview in which fame itself constitutes a form of legitimacy. He surrounds himself with celebrities because he views them as occupying the same elite tier he aspires to inhabit. This celebrity-centric perspective shapes his political alliances as much as any policy consideration.
Mamdani, regardless of one’s political views, has become a genuine political celebrity. His youth, charisma, and outsider narrative have generated international media coverage. His campaign rallies drew thousands, with young people traveling from other states to volunteer. Social media amplified his message beyond traditional political channels, creating a cultural moment that transcended typical municipal politics. In Trump’s framework, this celebrity status matters enormously.
The president’s history with New York City politics also plays a role. Trump grew up in Queens–the same borough Mamdani represented in the Assembly–and spent decades navigating New York’s complex political and social landscape. He understands the city’s celebrity culture, where political figures can become cultural icons. Mamdani’s emergence as such a figure naturally attracts Trump’s interest, much as he was drawn to other New York celebrities throughout his pre-political career.
This celebrity orientation also explains Trump’s willingness to set aside ideological differences. Throughout his career, he has valued fame over consistency, preferring to associate with recognizable names regardless of their politics. His friendship with Oprah Winfrey, despite their political differences, exemplifies this pattern. Mamdani’s sudden rise to celebrity status places him in a category Trump inherently values, creating a foundation for their unexpected rapport.
Subverting Expectations: The Reality TV Presidency
Perhaps the most important factor in understanding Trump’s approach to the Mamdani meeting involves his background in reality television. As both star and executive producer of “The Apprentice,” Trump learned that sustaining audience attention requires constant surprise. The predictable becomes boring; the unexpected generates buzz. This entertainment industry logic has shaped his presidency, with Trump consistently seeking to create moments that defy expectations and dominate news cycles.
The Trump-Mamdani meeting represented a perfect opportunity for such a moment. After months of bitter attacks and predictions of confrontation, a friendly meeting created precisely the kind of narrative swerve that Trump values. Media outlets worldwide covered the unexpected warmth between the two leaders, generating discussion and analysis that kept both men at the center of public attention. For Trump, this attention itself constitutes success.
This reality TV framework explains many of Trump’s most confounding political moves. His willingness to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un after threatening “fire and fury,” his sudden embrace of criminal justice reform despite law-and-order rhetoric, his oscillation between praising and attacking the same individuals–all reflect a consistent pattern of seeking dramatic moments that subvert expectations and maintain audience engagement.
The meeting with Mamdani fits seamlessly into this pattern. Nobody expected the two men to get along. Media coverage emphasized their ideological differences and history of harsh rhetoric. By defying these expectations, Trump created a news event that extended far beyond the substance of their conversation. The question “Why did Trump praise Mamdani?” became as important as what they actually discussed, generating sustained media attention.
Strategic Flexibility: Policy Positions as Negotiable
Unlike ideologically committed politicians, Trump has consistently demonstrated flexibility on policy matters when personal or strategic interests suggest a different approach. His political career began as a Democrat, shifted to Reform Party, then Republican. His positions on abortion, healthcare, taxes, and foreign policy have evolved based on political expediency rather than philosophical conviction. This flexibility extends to his relationships with political figures across the spectrum.
Trump’s willingness to work with Mamdani, despite calling him a communist, reflects this pragmatic flexibility. The president likely calculates that maintaining a positive relationship with the mayor of America’s largest city offers more advantages than continuing a pointless feud. New York City’s global prominence means the mayor occupies a platform that can either amplify or undermine Trump’s agenda. A cooperative relationship serves Trump’s interests better than continued antagonism.
This strategic calculation also considers Trump’s own political base. While Trump’s core supporters oppose progressive policies, they admire strength and winning. Trump can frame his cooperation with Mamdani as an example of his ability to work with anyone, to transcend partisan divisions, and to focus on results rather than ideology. This narrative reinforces Trump’s self-image as a dealmaker who prioritizes outcomes over political purity.
The Mercurial Nature of Trump’s Alliances
While the Trump-Mamdani meeting appeared remarkably friendly, history suggests caution about its long-term implications. Trump’s relationships famously fluctuate based on immediate circumstances, media coverage, and personal slights. Individuals who receive presidential praise one day can become targets of his ire the next. This mercurial nature means the current détente could evaporate quickly if Mamdani takes actions Trump perceives as disloyal or if the political landscape shifts.
Former allies like Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and even Vice President Mike Pence experienced Trump’s volatile relationship patterns. Each enjoyed periods of public praise before falling from favor, often over relatively minor disagreements or perceived disloyalty. Mamdani’s future relationship with Trump will likely follow similar patterns, with cooperation possible in some areas while conflicts emerge in others.
The president’s comment during the meeting–that he expects to continue calling Mamdani a fascist–demonstrates Trump’s comfort with contradiction. He can simultaneously praise someone and acknowledge fundamental disagreements, viewing relationships as transactional rather than based on consistent principles. This transactional approach allows for temporary alliances that serve immediate interests without requiring long-term commitment.
Implications for Progressive Politics
Trump’s surprising embrace of Mamdani raises important questions for progressive politics. If cooperation with Trump appears too friendly, does it risk alienating progressive supporters who view Trump as an existential threat? Conversely, if working with Trump delivers tangible benefits for New York’s working class, does refusing cooperation on principle serve constituents’ interests?
Mamdani appears to be threading this needle carefully. He maintains his public stance that Trump is a fascist and a threat to democracy while simultaneously pursuing practical cooperation on specific issues. This approach mirrors strategies employed by progressive politicians in Republican-controlled states who must work with governors they disagree with fundamentally while maintaining their progressive credentials.
The question remains whether this balancing act can succeed in an era of intense polarization. Some progressives may view any cooperation with Trump as betrayal, while others may appreciate the pragmatic focus on delivering results. Mamdani’s ability to maintain support from his base while working with Trump will test whether it’s possible to combine principle with pragmatism in contemporary American politics.
Reading Trump: Lessons for Future Interactions
For political figures who must interact with Trump, the Mamdani meeting offers instructive lessons. Understanding Trump’s core motivations–his attraction to winners, his celebrity orientation, his desire to subvert expectations–provides a framework for effective engagement. Rather than treating Trump primarily as an ideological opponent, savvy politicians recognize the personal and psychological factors that shape his behavior.
This doesn’t mean abandoning principles or softening criticism of Trump’s actions. Mamdani has demonstrated that one can maintain moral clarity about Trump’s threat to democracy while still engaging productively on specific issues. The key involves separating personal relationship management from policy disagreements and recognizing that Trump responds more to personal dynamics than ideological arguments.
Looking forward, the Trump-Mamdani relationship will likely experience both cooperation and conflict. Trump may praise Mamdani’s policing policies while attacking his immigration positions. He may threaten to withhold federal funding one week and offer assistance the next. This inconsistency reflects Trump’s nature, and successful management of the relationship requires accepting this volatility while pursuing opportunities for productive collaboration.
Ultimately, Trump’s embrace of Mamdani reveals less about any genuine policy alignment than it does about the president’s consistent patterns of behavior. By recognizing Mamdani’s success, celebrity status, and potential to create surprising narratives, Trump followed the same playbook he has employed throughout his public life. Understanding these patterns helps explain not just this meeting but the broader psychology of a president whose motivations, while often confusing to observers focused on ideology, remain remarkably consistent when viewed through the lens of personality rather than policy.
