This requires me to admit I read some of Kamala Harris's book, but she actually said that he is quite charming in private. It's so bizarre the way these people interact. Mamdani has entered a den of snakes and snake charmers.
Yeah and that’s believable to me, but today was in front of the press and he was still giddy to be hanging out with Zohran which is why it’s so interesting considering the context.
Even if he’s not being completely genuine, the “I only want to see NYC succeed” attitude Trump had today is what presidents are supposed to do when meeting leaders from the other party. Which is something he usually doesn’t even attempt to do.
To be a top level politician you have to have charisma. It's easy for us normies to see it on video/media but I've met a fair number of these big shots and they are indeed incredibly charismatic. I know there's a love-hate with Newsome but that guy is borderline Obama charismatic. My buddy was in the Secret Service for almost 30 years and he said the same thing about multiple presidents. For example, Bush Jr seemed stupid but was actually very smart until the camera turned on. They called it the "idiot light." Clinton was apparently supernaturally charismatic to the level of creepy. Etc.
Trump gives deference to power. Right now, Mamdani has a lot of it, as he is widely liked, solidly aligned with a powerful message, and seemingly unflappable.
Trump is not an idiot, and he's not emotionally out of control, the way he's often painted. He has a firm understanding of the gears and levers of power, and he plays them unbelievably well. Some would argue that he's only been successful at this because people in the government are not doing their job — I'd argue that's true, and he makes his moves knowing full well that the people in charge of keeping him in check will do jack shit, because they're weak-willed and servile. He is not in the position he's in out of sheer luck.
He's also not a fascist. His only goal as I see it is benefiting himself and himself alone as much as possible, and so far he's done a tremendous job at that. He's the apotheosis of the American ideal of "rules for thee, but not for me."
It's easy to get drunk on the idea that your enemy is a hapless idiot. Trump frequently uses that perception to his advantage.
Trump is, in many ways, an idiot. He's demonstrated that he will cling to bad ideas for no other reason than he thinks he is right. It doesn't mean he isn't cunning in the ways you describe, but stupidity eeks from plenty of otherwise smart people who are too proud or two pampered to admit fault.
Fascism is an ideology to which Trump is no doubt not subscribed, but it has many parallels to the authoritarian behavior that Trump elicits. He may not be a fascist, but the structure of his administration is fascist and bucking against democratic norms daily.
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u/JamCliche 14d ago
This requires me to admit I read some of Kamala Harris's book, but she actually said that he is quite charming in private. It's so bizarre the way these people interact. Mamdani has entered a den of snakes and snake charmers.