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Why Trump Pulled his Punches with Mamdani

Plus a discussion of media bubbles, primary schedules, and Democratic psychology

Dan Pfeiffer

Nov 22

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It’s time for another mailbag! For what it’s worth, I’m really enjoying these posts because the questions have been excellent, and it’s been an opportunity to dig into topics that are interesting but maybe not broad enough to justify their own post.

More importantly, it’s a reminder of how lucky I am to write for such a smart, dedicated community.

I hope you’re enjoying them as much as I am.

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Dan P

What did you make of the Mamdani/Trump meeting in the Oval Office today?

Answer

I figured folks would want a take on the Mamdani–Trump meeting today, and since no one asked a question about it, I decided to ask it myself (authorial privilege).

Everyone expected this to be a fireworks-filled meeting — essentially a domestic version of the Trump–Zelensky showdown earlier this year. That made sense given the right-wing paranoia around Mamdani, Trump’s repeated attacks on the mayor-elect, and Mamdani’s own criticisms of Trump on election night.

But the meeting was the opposite of what people anticipated. When the press entered, Trump praised Mamdani and refused to take the bait when a New York Post reporter tried to goad him.

Mamdani, for his part, deliberately passed up several chances to escalate. Here’s just one example of the meeting's tone.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist? MAMDANI: I've spoken about-- TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.