How Zohran Mamdani and his fake newspaper charmed Trump, led to promise of major housing deal | Fortune

"The mayor's team created a mock front page and headlines for Trump to look at and demonstrate what kind of reaction new federal housing investments could bring. The mock New York Daily News front page says "Trump to City: Let's Build" - a riff on the famous 1975 cover that read "Ford to City: Drop Dead," referring to Gerald Ford's vow to veto financial assistance to the city."

"Trump was "very enthusiastic" about Mamdani's proposal, which would allow 12,000 new affordable homes to be built at Sunnyside Yard in Queens by securing more than $21 billion in federal grants to build a deck over the rail yard site. The mayor's office estimates that the project could create 30,000 jobs and would be the biggest housing and infrastructure investment in more than 50 years."

"When Trump and Mamdani last met in November, the president encouraged Mamdani to return to him with an idea to build big things together in New York City. Though Trump repeatedly maligned Mamdani as a "communist" as he ran for New York City mayor, the president appeared charmed by him after their one-on-one meeting at the White House in November."

The mayor's team created a mock New York Daily News front page reading "Trump to City: Let's Build" to appeal to Trump's known interest in media coverage and local New York publications. The strategy worked, with Trump expressing enthusiasm for the Sunnyside Yard proposal, which would fund 12,000 new affordable homes through federal grants and create an estimated 30,000 jobs. The project represents the largest housing and infrastructure investment in over 50 years. Trump had previously encouraged the mayor to return with ambitious development ideas during their November White House meeting. Despite Trump's past criticism of the mayor during his campaign, their relationship has remained cordial since their initial meeting.

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