"None of Trump's hyperbolic commentary on the New York mayoral campaign, no absurd mischaracterization of Mamdani as a "communist," no pressure tactic or threat regarding federal funding or ICE raids, could change the fact that the democratic socialism that Mamdani champions has gained traction with voters, in New York and nationally, who are looking anew at alternatives to status-quo politics and status-quo economics."
"Trump noted that "a lot of my voters voted for him" on November 4-an acknowledgement that New Yorkers who backed Trump in 2024 because of cost-of-living concerns went to Mamdani, who addressed those concerns with far more specificity, in 2025. And he said that he would be comfortable living in a Mamdani-run New York-a complete reversal of the apocalyptic rhetoric the president and his billionaire allies used during the campaign."
Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump as a proud and victorious democratic socialist. Campaign attacks, mischaracterizations, and threats regarding federal funding or ICE raids did not prevent Mamdani's platform from gaining voter support. Democratic socialism attracted New Yorkers concerned about cost-of-living issues by offering concrete alternatives to status-quo politics and economics. The Oval Office meeting and a congenial post-meeting press conference indicated a grudging acknowledgement from political opponents that democratic socialism has enduring relevance. Trump noted crossover votes and even said he would be comfortable living in a Mamdani-run New York, signaling shifting political dynamics.
Read at The Nation
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