Mamdani Finds Another Public Figure Not to Smile With

"But when the then-incoming mayor met with President Trump for the first time last November, Mamdani notably did not smile, at least not for the cameras. As he stood beside the beaming president (who offered praise for his Democratic Socialist foil after months of pointed insults), Mamdani maintained a neutral expression."

"This week, Mamdani executed his no-smile strategy again, this time in the company of another divisive figure: FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The mayor shared a photo with Infantino following a Wednesday sitdown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to hold matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey this summer."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his constant smile during his campaign and early mayoral tenure, has adopted a deliberate strategy of maintaining a neutral or pained expression when photographed with divisive figures. This approach was evident during his first meeting with President Trump in November, where Mamdani stood expressionless beside the beaming president despite months of political opposition. The mayor repeated this strategy in a recent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium. In both instances, Mamdani used similar diplomatic language in social media posts describing the meetings as productive, while his facial expressions conveyed disinterest or discomfort.

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