Western media outlets have revealed a remarkably close relationship between US President Donald Trump and New York City's new mayor, Zahran Mamdani, a rapprochement that has sparked considerable controversy, especially given the sharp differences in their political stances and public rhetoric in recent times.
According to American press reports, Trump and Mamdani exchange text messages regularly, several times a week. This is unusual in American political circles, particularly since Mamdani recently made statements criticizing Trump's policies, which would have been expected to lead to a break or at least tension between the two.
From Public Confrontation to Behind-the-Scenes Communication
Le Parisien commented on this unexpected rapprochement, noting that many did not anticipate such a friendly relationship developing between the two men, especially after the heated verbal exchanges that characterized their relationship during the New York mayoral election campaign. During that period, Trump did not hesitate to call Mamdani a “communist,” while the latter responded by calling Trump a “fascist,” even publicly mocking him on more than one occasion.
However, according to the newspaper, this sharp confrontation suddenly transformed into an undeclared political friendship, based on direct communication and text messaging, which became a subject of widespread interest within political and media circles in the United States.
The White House Meeting… A Turning Point
Le Parisien quoted multiple sources, including the American website Axios, stating that the beginning of this rapprochement dates back to the meeting between Trump and Mamdani at the White House last November. According to observers, that meeting marked a turning point in the nature of the relationship between the two men.
During the visit, a change in tone was evident, with both sides exchanging smiles and compliments, a scene that surprised many observers. This apparent rapprochement soon developed into regular communication, with sources indicating that friendly text messages are exchanged between them at least twice a week.
The newspaper quoted a source familiar with the relationship between the two men as saying, “Engaging in a public or private dispute between Trump and Mamdani at this stage would be futile, both practically and politically.”
Political Calculations and Mutual Interests
Le Parisien believes this rapprochement is not without political calculations, arguing that it is wise for the new mayor of New York to maintain a friendly relationship with the US president to avoid any tension that could deprive the city of billions of dollars in federal aid.
In its analysis of the background to this communication, the newspaper points out that the personalities of Trump and Mamdani, despite their apparent contradictions, intersect in several aspects. Trump represents a model of conservative populism and challenges the traditional Republican establishment, while Mamdani embodies the social democratic left and also clashes with traditional political elites.
Similarities in Rhetoric, Divergent Visions
According to the newspaper, both men, each in their own way, express the frustrations of the American working class and adopt a discourse that deviates from prevailing political norms. This partially explains their ability to keep channels of dialogue open despite the fundamental differences that separate them.
However, this “political friendship” is not without its tensions. Mamdani publicly criticized the American strikes in Venezuela, a stance that displeased President Trump, who, according to reports, did not rule out the possibility that this disagreement would affect the level of coordination and communication between them, especially regarding foreign policy issues.
Between converging interests and diverging ideologies, the relationship between Trump and the new mayor of New York remains a model of the pragmatism of American politics, where sharp rivalry can transform, in an instant, into a friendship governed by interests and calculations, not slogans.
