"From almost the beginning of his rise, Zohran Mamdani positioned himself as an anti-Trump democratic socialist who would use the bully pulpit of Gracie Mansion to battle Maga attacks on the city. Trump, sensing an opportunity to create yet another punching bag, called Mamdani a communist and questioned his American citizenship. He even went to the trouble of endorsing Mamdani's opponent, Andrew Cuomo, in the mayoral election."
"New York City is the center of the attention economy New York is a place where tabloids scream all-caps headlines at people every day, where con artists can become legitimate celebrities simply for being somewhat successful at crime, and real estate developers with a taste for the spotlight can become president of the United States. I doubt I'm saying anything that will shock or concern you here, but it should be articulated:"
Zohran Mamdani emerged as an anti-Trump democratic socialist prepared to use Gracie Mansion to counter MAGA attacks on New York City. Donald Trump initially attacked Mamdani, labeled him a communist, questioned his citizenship, and endorsed his opponent Andrew Cuomo. After an Oval Office meeting their dynamic shifted toward a cordial, camera-ready interaction. New York's attention economy rewards spectacle, publicity, and performative encounters that boost personal brands. Donald Trump has long cultivated photo opportunities with prominent figures, and Mamdani, as a New Yorker, appears to understand and engage that publicity logic. Motives may include follower growth and image management rather than ideological alignment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]