‘Hundreds waiting’: Trump says media has ‘eaten up’ Mamdani meeting like no other

Key Concepts

• Unusual Press Interest: The press has shown significant interest in a meeting involving the President and a specific individual, despite the President's usual meetings with heads of major countries receiving less attention.
• "Different" Candidate: The individual in question is perceived as "different" from typical political candidates, possessing the potential to achieve great things for New York.
• New York's Critical Point: New York City is at a crucial juncture and requires federal government assistance to succeed.
• FDR and the New Deal: The meeting involved an appreciation for FDR and the New Deal, highlighting the transformative potential of federal and city government collaboration on affordability.
• Public Safety and NYPD Staffing: Discussions included crime and the potential reduction of police officers in New York City. The commitment is to maintain a headcount of approximately 35,000 police officers, focusing them on serious crime rather than non-police duties.
• Police Commissioner Appointment: The individual has retained a competent police commissioner, which is seen as a positive sign.
• Inter-Party Collaboration: Despite potential disagreements, the focus is on collaboration for the good of New York, irrespective of political affiliations.
• "Make New York Great Again": The individual's stated goal is to restore New York to its former greatness and make it even better.

Meeting Dynamics and Press Attention

The transcript highlights an unusual level of press engagement with a particular meeting, contrasting it with the typically lower media interest in the President's meetings with leaders of major countries. The President notes that "hundreds of people waiting" outside for this meeting, indicating a significant public and media curiosity. This attention is attributed to the individual's perceived difference from the norm.

The "Different" Candidate and New York's Future

The President describes the individual as "different" in a potentially positive way, suggesting they have the capacity to achieve something "great for New York." New York City is characterized as being at a "very critical point," necessitating federal government support for its success. The President explicitly states, "we're going to be helping him."

The candidate's rise is described as coming "out of nowhere," with the President recounting observing their progression from "one or two" in polls to "three," then "five," "nine," and eventually "17." This trajectory culminated in winning a primary that was "nobody expected he was going to win," which is deemed an "amazing thing" and a "great tribute."

Appreciation for FDR and the New Deal

A significant point of connection discussed is the appreciation for Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) and the New Deal. The President mentions finding and displaying a portrait of FDR, noting that the individual expressed a desire to be photographed with it. This is interpreted as an indication of the individual's admiration for the New Deal and the concept of federal and New York City government working together to achieve affordability, which is described as "transformative." The President also notes that FDR was a Democrat.

Public Safety and NYPD Staffing Commitments

A key discussion point revolved around crime and the potential for police officers to be removed from roles in New York City at the end of the year. The President expresses hope that police officers will be retained but emphasizes that the ultimate decision rests with the Mayor.

The Mayor, in response, states his commitment to delivering public safety with the NYPD. He reiterates his campaign promise to maintain a headcount of approximately 35,000 police officers, which is the budgeted figure. The crucial aspect, according to the Mayor, is to "make it easier for police to focus on police work, not ask them to respond to 200,000 mental health calls a year." He explicitly states, "Not replace them with case workers, social workers. No, I've said that's the headcount that we want. What we need to do is make sure they can focus on serious crime."

Police Commissioner Appointment

The transcript mentions the retention of a "great police commissioner," described as a "good friend of some of the people in my family of Ivanka" and deemed "really good, really competent." This appointment is viewed as a positive indicator.

Inter-Party Collaboration and Future Meetings

When asked about potential disagreements, the President acknowledges that "there will be topics that we disagree on." However, he expresses confidence that they will "come to a conclusion" and that either he will convince the Mayor or vice versa, emphasizing that it is "for the good of New York." The President states, "I don't care about affiliations or parties or anything else. I want to see if this city could be unbelievable. If he could be a spectacular success, I'd be very happy." Both parties anticipate and hope for future meetings, with the President stating, "I think we will. I think we will. I hope we do. I enjoyed the meeting. We had a great meeting."

Addressing Campaign Rhetoric

Regarding a Republican candidate's campaign rhetoric labeling the Mayor a "jihadist," the President deflects the question, stating, "you say things sometimes in a campaign." He describes the Mayor as a "very capable person" and a "very rational person" who "wants to see really wants to see New York be great again."

New York's Past, Present, and Future Potential

The President reflects on New York's past, recalling that when he "came down to Washington initially, the city was so hot. It was doing great." He acknowledges signs of problems and a mayor who "was not doing a great job," but the city was still "moving along." He states that the city "went bad. It really went, you know, pretty bad." He believes the Mayor can "bring it back," and the ultimate question is whether he can bring it back "greater than ever before," which the President asserts is the Mayor's wish. The President pledges to be "cheering for him" if he achieves this.

Conclusion

The meeting between the President and the Mayor of New York signifies a potentially significant collaboration aimed at revitalizing the city. The unusual press attention underscores the public's interest in this new political dynamic. Key themes include the Mayor's unique appeal, New York's current challenges, the importance of federal-city partnership exemplified by the New Deal, a commitment to maintaining police force levels while focusing on serious crime, and a shared vision for making New York "greater than ever before," transcending political differences.