Trump and Mamdani are smart to make nice
All of this is true, yet there is another reason for their odd friendship, rooted in their apparent knowledge of New York political history. Both of these savvy politicians seem to recognize the reality that feuds between mayors of New York and presidents can be dangerous on both sides. In the past, fighting between New York mayors and presidents has often caused problems for both players, even when both men were of the same party.
TL;DR
- President Trump and Mayor Mamdani maintain a surprisingly friendly relationship, including texting.
- Their relationship is attributed to shared New York origins, political savvy, and understanding historical precedents.
- Past feuds between New York mayors and presidents often resulted in negative outcomes for both.
- Cooperation between mayors and presidents has sometimes coincided with periods of prosperity for New York City.
- Mamdani's gift of a mock Daily News "Ford to City: Drop Dead" headline highlights his awareness of this history.
- While currently amicable, the long-term stability of their friendship is uncertain due to competing interests.