What is happening?
In a particularly notable moment, the president said that “some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have.” At another point, he added that “we agree on a lot more than I would have thought. I want him to do a great job, and we’ll help him do a great job.”
One thing I haven’t seen discussed in regards to this meeting is that Trump has apparently just recently realized (as of the election results around the U.S.) that he’s hugely unpopular and that it threatens his power / his grip on the Republicans. And that it stems in part from how he has ignored the affordability issue ever since he got elected.
Then someone like Mamdani waltzes into the picture and absolutely cleans up when running on affordability… and not just “uh yeah I will totally lower the price of eggs” either. So Trump sees an opportunity to cozy up to this affordability guy in the hopes that some of the voter goodwill that Mamdani earned on that topic rubs off on Trump. He’s desperate not to lose his grip on power.
Yeah, I think you’re right. Trump is a dumbass in almost all respects, but he is pretty good at reading and playing to a crowd.
Pretty good. But now you can almost see the desperation bleeding through the orange makeup. I think he’s beginning to realize that the moral arc of the universe is actually not so long—and bends toward comeuppance.
yeah i’ve been thinking the same thing
ultimately trump is just a populist. he doesn’t care what he does, as long as it makes him popular and stay in power. that can be seen as a good thing, because it might trump to actually move more on the affordability topic.
You’re right that he has no moral compass—but I think that means any movement he makes on affordability can only ever be skin-deep. He’d just as soon sell out the entire populace if he gets a better offer in regards to retaining power.
yeah you’re right