Makes me think of something Patton Oswalt said about Trump. Paraphrased: You never hear Trump trashing South Park even though they are much more insulting than Colbert or Kimmel, and Patton’s theory is that it’s because they are wildly successful. They have huge ratings and make tons of money. Trump respects success if nothing else.

Mamdani won bigly, and it may be possible that Trump sees this as an opportunity to become more powerful, and/or avoid any potential problems in NYC.

They sang songs with lyrics about New York together and that was that.

Other, less-likely factors:

New York loves Mamdani. Trump loves New York.

Trump wants to align himself with winners, and Mamdani is a winner.

Mamdani explained to him how doing what is good for New Yorkers would result in a boom for businesses and the economy.

He feels comradery over the ragebait questions from the press.

The writing is on the wall with a low approval rating and the Epstein Files. He sees his loss of support and party circling like hyenas. He’s desperate and/or willing to try something different to save face. Maybe he becomes a Democrat. He never admitted to supporting Project 2025 and friends, and would betray them to serve himself. He doesn’t give a shit as long as he stays in power. Woke Trump 2026.

He respects strong confident men, which Mamdani is

Dementia.

ETA: As in, Trump kinda forgot who he was, and that he should be irrationally hating on him.

We’re living in a Wattpad Fanfiction 😏

I know Mamdani has yet to actually show his true colours and capabilities once in office, but so far I’m hugely impressed with him. He manages to win over people with his charm and smart rhetoric (e. g. Fox’s Martha MacCallum in that interview, now Trump) while - importantly - staying consistent on message. Many politicians in a similar situation would’ve toned it down, but in the Oval Office Mamdani 1) repeated his main talking points (affordability, rent, buses, groceries…), 2) called himself a democratic socialist, 3) called the situation in Gaza a genocide, 4) did not deny Trump being a fascist (although Trump helped him on that one).
Being secure and steadfast on your own convictions actually gives you the liberty to work across the aisle without having to fear losing yourself or your constituents.

The media trying to rage bait the entire time was embarrassing.

because Mamdani is charming, and Trump is a simpleton who likes people he thinks like him.

Who the fuck uses glazing that way? That’s not an image we needed in our minds.

Trump is easily dazzled.

I wonder if Mamdani’s nickname is Bubba…

…It’s because Mamdani is not a jerk?

Look, Trump is a human being in an incredible distortion sphere. His actions/reactions tend to skew more “interpersonal” and emotional than Machiavellian, like how he acts immediately after he meets Zelensky or a lawmaker or sees a bad Tweet or whatever; he was like before politics.

Step in Trump’s shoes: he sees Mamdani on Fox News, on his Twitter feed, from his circle: this guy is Socialist Satan from his perspective.

Then the guy walks into Trump’s office, as is actually super nice and reasonably balanced, and loves New York too? He’s clearly not an alien lizard like a Clinton.

I’m not surprised Trump reacted this way at all. It’s totally in character. And if you understand this, you understand why Trump has so much popularity: in spite of the massive toxicity he commands, he’s quite human for a politician.