U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that federal funding to New York City could be halted if Zohran Mamdani, the city’s favored Democratic mayoral candidate, wins office and “doesn’t behave himself.”
The president’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions surrounding Mamdani’s progressive campaign platform.
Trump made the comments during a Fox News interview, where he was asked about Mamdani, a democratic socialist and rising political figure. Trump dismissed Mamdani’s prospects, calling his potential victory “inconceivable” and describing him as “a pure communist.”
Outlining his stance if Mamdani were to be elected, Trump said, as reported by The Guardian, “Let’s say this – if he does get in, I’m going to be president, and he’s going to have to do the right thing, or they’re not getting any money. He’s got to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money.”
Federal funding to New York City surpasses $100 million each year, based on the city comptroller's latest statistics, subsidizing everything from programs to institutions.
In response to the president's assertions, Mamdani said Sunday in an interview with NBC News, "No, I am not" a communist. He rebuked Trump's emphasis on his identity, asserting, "He's going to have to get used to speaking about the way I look, the way I sound, where I'm from, who I am ultimately because he wants to divert attention from what I'm struggling for.
Mamdani, 33, has centered his campaign on a vow to redirect the burden of taxes from low-income homeowners to better-off residents. He has called for raising income taxes on individuals who earn more than $1 million and raising corporate tax rates to New Jersey's levels.
While Mamdani is leading the Democratic pack at present, he continues to face competition, including that of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who, having lost the Democratic nomination to Mamdani, is considering running as an independent. The Democratic primary is still being contested, and Mamdani is in a close race as the competition heats up.
