Mallory Wilson | July 3, 2025
(The Washington Times) — President Trump said Wednesday that he will “save” New York City from Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
“As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, referencing Mr. Mamdani. “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!”
Mr. Mamdani, 33, is a self-described democratic socialist. He has served as an assembly member since 2021. He beat out former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, shocking the Democratic Party establishment.
He is promising New Yorkers free buses, free childcare, rent freezes and minimum wage increases. He also wants a 2% tax on residents making over $1 million annually.
Mr. Trump previously called Mr. Mamdani a “100% communist lunatic.”
“We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous,” he wrote on social media. “He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him.”
When asked about the Democratic nominee for mayor in his former hometown, Mr. Trump warned Mr. Mamdani not to try and stop illegal immigration enforcement in the city or risk being arrested.
“Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I am going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation,” Mr. Trump said.
“I’ve heard he’s a total nut job,” he said.
He also questioned Mr. Mamdani’s legality. Mr. Mamdani was born in Uganda, but moved to New York City when he was seven years old and has since become a naturalized citizen.
“A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re going to look at everything. And ideally, he’s going to turn out to be much less than a communist, but right now, he’s a communist, that’s not a socialist.”
Mr. Mamdani has hit back at Mr. Trump, telling him to “learn about my actual policies to make the city affordable.”
After Mr. Trump questioned his status in the U.S., Mr. Mamdani said the president’s “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.”
Republicans have painted Mr. Mamdani as too extreme, while New York Democrats such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler are rooting for him. He will now face off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who was a Democrat and is now running as an independent.
Mr. Cuomo will also be back on the Nov. 4 ballot as an independent.
Other key New York Democrats who have yet to endorse him, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, still defended him against Mr. Trump’s comments.
“I don’t care if you’re the president of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me,” Ms. Hochul wrote on social media Tuesday in response to a Mr. Trump questioning Mr. Mamdani’s legal status.
“Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani,” Mr. Jeffries wrote on social media Wednesday. “He is neither a communist nor a lunatic. And New York City doesn’t need to be saved by a wannabe King. Besides, you are too busy destroying America with your One Big Ugly Bill to do anything else.”
