Lucas: Healey, Wu aren’t joining Trump’s buddy list
In a striking commentary on the current political landscape, the article discusses the contrasting approaches of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu towards engaging with former President Donald Trump. While both leaders are prominent figures within the Democratic Party, their reluctance to collaborate with Trump stands in stark contrast to the recent actions of New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The article suggests that Healey and Wu prioritize their political identities and the sentiments of their progressive base over pragmatic governance, choosing to “stand up” to Trump rather than seeking opportunities for collaboration that could benefit their constituents.
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, initially campaigned against Trump, labeling him with terms like “fascist” and “despot.” However, once elected, he recognized the importance of working across the aisle to address the pressing issues facing New York City. In an unexpected move, he reached out to Trump for assistance, focusing on common ground related to affordability and city services. This decision paid off, as Mamdani found himself in the Oval Office discussing mutual interests with Trump, highlighting a willingness to prioritize policy over partisan conflict. The article emphasizes that while Mamdani faces backlash from some factions of the left for his approach, his actions demonstrate a bold and strategic pivot towards effective governance that could serve as a model for other Democratic leaders, like Healey and Wu, who remain entrenched in their opposition to Trump.
The piece ultimately argues that in a highly polarized political climate, embracing collaboration—even with political adversaries—can lead to meaningful solutions and progress. Mamdani’s willingness to set aside ideological differences for the greater good of his city stands in stark contrast to the entrenched partisanship exhibited by Healey and Wu. As the political environment continues to evolve, the article calls for a reassessment of priorities among Democratic leaders, urging them to consider the benefits of bipartisanship in service of their constituents rather than succumbing to the pressures of party loyalty and rhetoric.
That could have been Maura Healey or Michelle Wu standing beside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office the other day.
All Governor Healey and Boston Mayor Wu had to do was pick up the phone, call the White House and ask for an appointment the way Zohran Mamdani did.
Trump meets with everyone, including war criminals like Vladimir Putin.
But they won’t. The pair of Democrat progressives would rather “stand up” to Trump — and appease their left-wing base — than work with him to benefit their larger constituencies, meaning the city and the state.
Wu, in fact, arrogantly insists that she has no interest in a “bromance” with Trump.
In one-party Democratic Massachusetts, politics beats policy every time. And the politics call for Democratic office holders to hurl hate bombs against Trump no matter the consequences.
What will they do when Trump is gone?
Mamdani, the brash 34-year-old mayor-elect of New York City, and a Democratic Socialist to boot, threw the same hate bombs at Trump in his campaign for mayor.
He called Trump everything from a fascist to a despot.
“We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks,” Mamdani said in his belligerent victory speech.
Trump, not to be outdone in the insult department, called Mamdani, among other things, “a nut job” and a “lunatic” communist. He would have labeled him “Moscow Mamdani” had he thought of it.
But a funny thing happened that changed everything.
Mamdani was elected.
He then realized that he needed help to run the biggest city in the country and keep people safe.
So, after brutally attacking the New York police, he first asked Jessica Tisch, the effective law-and-order police commissioner, to stay on the job and promised to keep the number of cops at their present level.
Then Mamdani realized that he needed help to pay for all the free stuff he, like a true socialist, promised, things like free day care, free buses, city-run grocery stores, and so on.
But, instead of reaching out to other Democratic Socialists, like Sen. Bernie Sanders or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for instance, who offer nothing but socialist platitudes, he reached out to Republican President Donald Trump, the capitalist who can do things for him and for New York.
It was a shrewd maneuver on his part, and for Trump as well. Three months ago, nobody knew who Mamdani was, and here he was in the White House meeting with the most powerful man in the world.
The socialist had come hat in hand asking the capitalist for help.
The key to the success of the meeting was that the pair discussed what they could agree on — helping New York on affordability issues — while ignoring what they differed on, like ICE rounding up criminal illegal immigrants, law and order, Israel, protecting Jews in New York, and Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the Intifada.
While Mamdani stood by a seated Trump, like pupil and teacher, Trump said, “Some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have.”
“We’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York,” Trump said.
While Mamdani faces criticism from militant Trump-hating socialists for cozying up to Trump, it was a bold move on his part. Mamdani put the policy of helping New York over the politics of hating Trump.
Others should follow suit.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com.
Mayor Michelle Wu, seen here as she arrived with this year’s Christmas tree from Nova Scotia, has said “I’m not interested in a bromance with the federal regime.” (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald) .
