How Zohran Mamdani mastered Trump's 'Art of the Deal'

Zohran Mamdani, the New York mayor, has mastered the art of political deal-making by carefully balancing the demands of his progressive supporters while maintaining a relationship with Donald Trump. Like the 11 rules outlined in Trump's "The Art of the Deal," Mamdani has successfully executed eight of them during his first eight months in office.

Rule 1: Think big - Mamdani campaigned on ambitious promises to improve housing, parks, schools, and employment, despite lacking the immediate funding from the federal government. Nevertheless, he managed to secure Trump's support and even had ICE release a detainee, demonstrating his commitment to big ideas.

Rule 2: Protect the downside - Mamdani strategically retained NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, a billionaire heiress, to distance himself from controversial policies and secure favorable crime statistics. He also attended the Israel Day Parade, maintaining a presence while avoiding direct involvement.

Rule 3: Maximise options - Mamdani skillfully navigated the complex landscape of education policy in New York. Initially opposed to mayoral control, he later reversed his stance, asking Albany to extend it and appointing his own chancellor, allowing him to leverage this system to his advantage.

Rule 4: Know your market - Mamdani understood that New Yorkers' primary concern is the affordability of rent. Despite opposition from landlords, he facilitated a 7-1 vote by the Rent Guidelines Board to freeze rents on one-year and two-year leases for almost a million rent-stabilized apartments.

Rule 5: Use your leverage - Mamdani demanded $5.5 billion from Albany through higher taxes on corporations to fund his agenda. While acknowledging the potential negative consequences, he understood that populism often triumphs over economic logic in democratic societies.