Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s proposals to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and to arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in New York have drawn severe ire from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to cut off federal funds to the city if Mamdani is elected and “doesn’t behave.” Trump labeled Mamdani a “radical left lunatic.”
Trump’s comments on Fox News indicate his strong disapproval of Mamdani’s stances on these highly sensitive international and domestic issues. The president warned that Mamdani would be “very unsuccessful” on both counts and that New York City’s over $100 billion in federal aid would be at risk under a Mamdani mayoralty, highlighting the potential for a severe federal-local clash.
Mamdani, appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, denied Trump’s “communist” label, framing the president’s personal attacks as a diversionary tactic from his core message of economic justice and a fairer city. He drew inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for wealth redistribution, emphasizing his plan to shift the tax burden from “overtaxed homeowners” to wealthier areas, based on economic assessment.
Mamdani’s primary win, while endorsed by progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has also raised concerns among some moderate Democrats. He remains steadfast in his vision, asserting that his policies are driven by an assessment of the city’s needs and aim to empower working people, pushing for a Democratic Party that is “for something” rather than just “against Donald Trump.”