Trump vows to 'save' NYC from Mamdani, calls him 'Communist Lunatic'

Donald Trump calls NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a 'Communist lunatic', threatens arrest and funding cuts. Meanwhile, Mamdani says he isn't 'intimidated'

US President Donald Trump has said that he will save New York City from "Communist lunatic" Indian-origin mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, he wrote, "As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York. Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. I’ll save New York City, and make it “Hot” and “Great” again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!"

 

Earlier on Tuesday (July 1), Trump said Mamdani should be arrested if he tries to block federal immigration agents from operating in the city. "Well then we'll have to arrest him," Trump said, responding to a question on the matter. Mamdani has pledged to “kick fascist ICE” out of New York City if elected.

 

Concerns over Mamdani’s policies

Previously, speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump expressed disbelief at New Yorkers supporting Mamdani’s campaign. "I think the people in New York are crazy if they go this route," he said. 

 

"We will have a communist in for the first time, really a pure, true communist. He wants to operate the grocery stores. The department stores. What about the people that are there? I think it's crazy," Trump added.

 

Last week, Trump also warned that he might withdraw federal funds from New York if Mamdani becomes mayor and “doesn't behave himself”. According to a Fox News report, New York receives over $100 billion from the federal government through various programmes.

I won't be intimidated: Mamdani

Mamdani has firmly rejected Trump’s allegations, denying any communist leanings. He said he is already getting “used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I'm from, who I am,” and that Trump is trying to shift attention from the real issues.

 

"Call it democracy or call it democratic socialism. There has to be a better distribution of wealth for all of God's children in this country," he said.   

Trump threatens to arrest Zohran Mamdani over ICE interference | New York | Illegal immigration

 

In response to Trump’s threat of arrest, Mamdani said, "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 terrorise our city."

 

"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," he added.

Trump labels Mamdani a 'nut job'

Trump has also called Mamdani a “pure, true communist” and a “total nut job,” adding that he would “have a lot of fun with him” if Mamdani is elected.

 

Notably, Mamdani officially secured the Democratic nomination for New York City’s mayoral election on Tuesday. Born in Uganda to South Asian parents, he became a US citizen in 2018. If elected in November, he would become the city’s first Muslim mayor. Meanwhile, some Republican figures are advocating for his citizenship to be revoked.