President Donald Trump has threatened to arrest Zohran Mamdani, the favorite to become the next mayor of New York City, and take away his U.S. citizenship.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblyman from Queens, won the Democratic primary for mayor on Tuesday. Hours later, Trump called him a “communist” and said he would be “watching over him very carefully.”
Trump told reporters during a tour of the new “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center in Florida, “Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching on behalf of the nation.”
Trump also repeated false claims that Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, is not in the United States legally. “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally,” Trump said. “We’re going to look at everything… right now he’s a communist. That’s not a socialist.”
Mamdani shared his reaction on Instagram shortly after his win: “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp, and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.”
He added, “We will not accept this intimidation.” Mamdani also said he expects voters to reject Trump’s praise of current independent Mayor Eric Adams in November’s mayoral election.
Mamdani’s win has stirred debate around the country. He won 56% of the Democratic primary vote, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo got 44%. Politicians across the country are watching closely, with some conservatives warning that New York City may change direction under Mamdani’s leadership.
Trump has publicly called Mamdani “bad news” and a “total nut job.” He has also threatened to withhold federal funding to the city if Mamdani “does not do the right thing.”
Mamdani responded, “His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you.”
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