cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/55216790

US Politics: A Scripted Spectacle?

US politics increasingly resembles a scripted drama, with politicians flipping from fiery condemnations to chummy collaborations in ways that strain credulity, as seen in recent interactions between President Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Trump announced plans to designate Antifa—a group often linked to antifascist activism—as a "major terrorist organization," labeling it a "sick, dangerous, radical left disaster." [1][2] Mamdani, a democratic socialist, repeatedly called Trump a "fascist" and "tyrant" during his campaign, even vowing in his victory speech to challenge the president's power directly. [3][4]

Yet, days later, the two held a strikingly amicable Oval Office meeting, bonding over New York issues like housing and costs, with Trump patting Mamdani's arm and joking, "You can just say yes [to calling me a fascist]. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind." [5][6] Mamdani reaffirmed his "fascist" label post-meeting but praised the "productive" talk, highlighting unexpected common ground despite prior insults like Trump dubbing him a "communist lunatic." [7][8] This rapid pivot from enmity to partnership fuels perceptions of orchestration.

Evidence of Theatrical Elements

Critics liken such episodes to "kabuki theater," where public clashes mask private deals benefiting elites over constituents. [9] Historical parallels include the Pentagon's script oversight in Hollywood films to shape war narratives favorably, rejecting projects that stray from approved storylines. [10] Commentators note politics outfakes even WWE's scripted dramas, with Trump's playful deflection of "fascist" barbs evoking rehearsed entertainment. [11]

Public discourse echoes this: Reddit threads dissect the Trump-Mamdani rapport as too polished, questioning threats like deportation that evaporated overnight. [12] Such performances erode trust, prioritizing viral moments over policy depth, much like congressional hearings devolving into grandstanding. [13]

Why It Undermines Democracy

This performative style distracts from real issues, turning governance into entertainment that prioritizes outrage cycles over solutions. Voters deserve authenticity, not Hollywood-grade flips that make cooperation seem like a plot twist rather than principled compromise. [14] When leaders joke off existential labels amid collaboration, it blurs lines between rhetoric and reality, cheapening discourse. [15]

Citations: [1] Trump says he plans to designate Antifa a ‘major terrorist' group https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/18/trump-says-he-plans-to-designate-antifa-a-major-terrorist-group [2] Trump says he's designating Antifa as a terrorist organization https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/17/politics/antifa-terrorist-designation-trump [3] Mamdani reiterates Trump is a ‘fascist' just days after cordial meeting https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/23/mamdani-trump-fascist [4] Mamdani says he still thinks Trump is a 'fascist' after friendly meeting https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/23/mamdani-says-trump-a-fascist-meet-the-press/87433931007/ [5] Trump jokes it's OK for Mamdani to call him a ‘fascist': ‘You can just say yes' https://nypost.com/2025/11/21/us-news/trump-runs-cover-for-mamdani-after-mayor-elect-asked-to-explain-if-he-still-thinks-president-is-a-fascist-you-can-just-say-yes/ [6] Trump Heaps Praise on Mamdani and New York's Future https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/21/us/trump-news [7] Mamdani maintains Trump a ‘fascist' despite cordial White House meeting https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/23/mamdani-maintains-trump-a-fascist-despite-cordial-white-house-meeting [8] Mamdani announces “partnership” with hated would-be dictator Trump https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/11/22/mzez-n22.html [9] US Politics: I believe that all the politics that you and I observe is simply kabuki theater. CMV. https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1v02ta/us_politics_i_believe_that_all_the_politics_that/ [10] How the Pentagon dictates Hollywood storylines - MR Online https://mronline.org/2022/08/06/how-the-pentagon-dictates-hollywood-storylines/ [11] "American Politics Is Faker Than WWE's Scripted Dramas" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odhm6oci2Hg [12] Donald Trump to Zohran Mamdani after Mamdani was asked if he thinks Trump is a fascist: “That's okay. You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind.” https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1p3a77d/donald_trump_to_zohran_mamdani_after_mamdani_was/ [13] America's War on Theater https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/americas-war-on-theater [14] Endpaper: Politics as Performance https://harvardpolitics.com/endpaper-politics-performance/ [15] 'That’s okay...': Trump shrugs off Mamdani calling him a fascist, says he doesn’t mind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKC9izG5zC4 [16] Meet Mandana Dayani, ex-boss of Prince Harry and ... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3264213/meet-mandana-dayani-ex-boss-prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-archewell-iranian-american-entrepreneur [17] The Trump resort will host two antisemites, amongst many ... https://www.instagram.com/p/CsAnMRPOGrd/ [18] Trump says he'll seek to designate antifa as 'major terrorist ... https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-hell-seek-designate-antifa-major-terrorist-organization/story?id=125693568 [19] Mandana Dayani https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandana_Dayani [20] Can Trump Actually Designate Antifa a Terrorist Group? Here Are the Facts. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/us/politics/trump-antifa-terrorist-group.html [21] Don't Panic (Yet): Assessing the Evidence and Discourse ... https://knightcolumbia.org/content/dont-panic-yet-assessing-the-evidence-and-discourse-around-generative-ai-and-elections [22] Why Conservatives Killed America's Federally Funded… https://yalereview.org/article/charlie-tyson-james-shapiro-the-playbook [23] Watch Trump and Mamdani's full remarks in the Oval Office https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/politics/video/trump-mamdani-oval-office-full-digvid [24] Debra Messing and Mandana Dayani: Jewish Champions https://jewishjournal.com/cover_story/359281/debra-messing-and-mandana-dayani-jewish-champions/ [25] SEE IT: Mamdani's message to President Trump https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1ofxpzt/see_it_mamdanis_message_to_president_trump/ [26] Jewish activist who fled Iran sees shades of the fall ... https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-influencer-who-fled-iran-sees-shades-of-the-fall-of-the-shah-on-us-campuses/ [27] Mandana Dayani (@mandanadayani) / Posts / X https://x.com/mandanadayani?lang=en