Mayor Zohran Mamdani met Trump in the Oval Office yesterday to pitch a huge New York City housing initiative – and secure the release of a Columbia University student from ICE custody. Mamdani’s communications director said that Trump was “very enthusiastic” about the plan to build 12,000 new affordable homes in Sunnyside, Queens, by using over $21 billion in federal grants. What’s more, the student, who happens to be a photogenic young woman, was freed. Results all around.

Zohran and his team gave Trump a prop newspaper with the headline “TRUMP TO CITY: LET’S BUILD,” a play on the 1975 New York Daily News cover – “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD.” The headlines made a clear case for how much the people would love Trump if he went ahead with Mamdani’s plans. Holding both newspapers, Trump beamed like a kid on school-picture day. Mamdani stood behind him, a proud sales associate with his hands clasped demurely.

The reactions on the left since the meeting have focused on Mamdani’s ability to maneuver Trump, while those on the right point out the similarities between left-wing socialism and right-wing nationalism. “Zohran eats free at Butterworth’s. Come through,” wrote one DC restaurateur on X, after mentioning the “strong........

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