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The armies of left-leaning America and right-wing backers were assembled prepared to watch their leaders face off. After all, Trump had earlier referred to Mamdani as a “complete radical ideologue” and “absolute madman”. The incoming democratic socialist New York city leader had in turn branded the GOP US leader a “tyrant” and “authoritarian”.

However observers hoping to see fists fly and clothing ripped in the presidential office were in for a letdown. Donald Trump, in his late seventies, and young Mamdani surprisingly interacted quite positively. In fact smoothly, confusingly, strangely well. Rather than Batman v Superman, this was animated friendship friends like longtime companions.

Maybe the old liberal versus conservative divisions have become dead. This was a example of talent acknowledging talent – of leaders respecting leaders.

The President is now on far more positive relations with the mayor-elect than with a party ally. Mamdani experienced a more positive greeting from the President than from the leaders of his own party – a reality turned upside down.

The Companion Tale Starts

The buddy movie commenced with Donald Trump sitting behind the Resolute Desk and Mamdani positioned to his right, a sculpture of George Washington behind him. “We have an important element in common – we want this city of us that we value to prosper,” the president said, referring to NYC.

He continued: “I think you’re going to have hopefully a really great chief executive. The more he performs – the more pleased I feel. Let me state there is no distinction in political affiliation, we share common ground in anything, and we’re going to be helping him to enable all aspiration come true, creating a strong and extremely secure the city.”

The great sound was the result of White House journalists’ mouths hitting the carpet of the presidential office. The shredding sound was the result of conservative strategists abandoning their game plan to attack Zohran as the Marxist face of the Democrats.

This Bromance Progresses

This friendship – as unexpected as Trump laughing and joking with Obama at Jimmy Carter’s memorial service – continued with plenty of physical body language. Mamdani, who will be the pioneering mayor of New York and once announced himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare”, stated: “Our discussion proved a successful meeting centered on a subject of common admiration and love, which is the city, and the necessity to ensure economic access to city residents.”

After the press commenced asking inquiries, Trump conceded that the mayor-elect has perspectives that are “radical” but suggested he might “going to change” and “will astonish” some traditionalists, truly”.

Shared Ground

Both individuals observed that some Mamdani constituents had even backed the President. The progressive said it was because of “economic pressures” – and he anticipated to delivering with the president on “the affordability agenda”. Trump acknowledged: “A number of Zohran's ideas really are the similar ideas that I possess.”

So when Mamdani was inquired about his previous description of Donald Trump as a autocrat with a dictatorial plan, the mayor artfully turned from topics of disagreement back to affordability. The president then commented: “Furthermore I’ve been called more severe than a autocrat, so it’s not that insulting.”

Which terms could qualify as an affront currently? Absolute? Tyrant? Authoritarian? Führer? When a conservative media reporter questioned if Zohran maintained his remarks that the President is a fascist, Trump interrupted before the mayor could fully answer the point.

“No problem. Simply state yes. OK?” The President said, touching the mayor-elect affectionately on the back. “It's less complicated … than elaborating. I don’t mind.”

Endearing – but scholars may argue that a US leader nonchalantly shrugging off the description fascist was not a proud occasion in the record of the country.

Supporting for the Incoming Leader

The President jumped in a second time when a reporter inquired the mayor-elect why he chose to DC instead of using rail transport, which reduces fossil fuels. “I’ll stick up for you,” the president declared, before explaining flight was more efficient and Zohran was busy.

Additionally when a reporter inquired about Republican lawmaker Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally running for governor of New York state having branded the mayor-elect “a jihadist”, the chief executive commented he rejected that, describing the mayor “quite reasonable”.

It's easy to picture Stefanik being asked for reaction and saying, “Absolutely not!

{Common|Shared|Mutual