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Did Zohran Mamdani Just Outplay Trump?

2026-02-27 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
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Description

Tim Miller and Andrew Egger give their takes on the shocking and strangely stylish White House visit by Zohran Mamdani, who met with Trump to discuss housing plans. They break down Mamdani’s strategy of engaging Trump directly, the optics of the now-viral meeting photo, and whether Mamdani managed to “mog” the president or simply played to Trump’s ego. Is Mamdani’s approach political genius, dangerous flirtation with Trump’s brand, or just effective results-oriented dealmaking? Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@greymatters7039 2026-02-27

Mayor Mamdani understands the assignment.

355 3 replies
@Karl-Hungus-KH 2026-02-27

Zohran has main character energy and Trump realizes that.

299 4 replies
@Chrometrails-q2m 2026-02-27

Absolutely wild that the Mayor of New York City is conducting hostage negotiations with the US President.

587 11 replies
@theresasayre7380 2026-02-27

No no no. Mamdani is just outsmarting Trump and get what he needs to help NYC. He’s amazing.

381 16 replies
@auntielou3610 2026-02-27

Zohran knows the game and how to play. For the people-

441 15 replies
@marti_443 2026-02-27

As a New Yorker, I want to add that Mamdani did a great thing with street and sidewalk snow plowing this week. I'm a senior and was surprised to find that it was easy to walk across town from 10th Avenue to 6th Avenue on Tuesday. Wednesday evening I found 10th Avenue very easy to walk down in Hell's Kitchen. Usually we have to wear snow boots and walk through slush puddles, but it was so much better this time. I read in a local site that many people were hired to manually shovel all hte intersections on 10th Avenue for at least 20 blocks and then they did it on 9th Avenue. Just thought I would mention that. Mayors are judged on how they handle snowstorms.

282 15 replies
@RobertZellers 2026-02-27

Mamdani gave up nothing but a fake newspaper and an afternoon. In return he got funding for his city, defused Trump's ire towards NYC, and got a political prisoner released. Those are huge wins in one big, fast, and dramatic motion. My layman photo analysis: This photo is brilliant for Mamdani. He looms over Trump with a somber expression, while Trump is seated and grinning with joy. He holds up two massive fake newspapers that further diminish him. Mamdani does not smile in the photo, either, not how a politician is expected to smile. That expression invites the viewer to see this transaction for what it is: the ugly truth of working with Trump.

165 4 replies
@lexa_power 2026-02-27

Mamdani’s campaign promise was that he would work with Trump when it came to matters of benefitting New York City and getting his constituents the funding they need for things just like this. This is what he was elected to do. Bravo. Finally a politician who actually keeps their word.

44
@cathyc.2512 2026-02-27

Mamdani is handsome. Trump loves good looking men.

256 14 replies
@elisabetk2595 2026-02-27

Immigrants, they get the job done.

201 4 replies

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