The race for New York City mayor has taken a dramatic turn as Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani accused President Donald Trump of threatening to have him arrested, stripped of his citizenship, and deported.
Mamdani, a progressive city lawmaker and the son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, says Trump’s comments are an attempt to intimidate him and silence opposition to federal immigration enforcement. Speaking out on Wednesday, Mamdani asserted, “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 characterized the president’s remarks as an attack not only on him, but on democracy and the voices of immigrants across New York.
Trump’s Escalating Rhetoric
Since Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary, President Trump and other Republicans have intensified their criticism. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump labeled Mamdani a “Communist Lunatic,” vowing, “I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York... I’ll save New York City, and make it ‘Hot’ and ‘Great’ again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!”
Trump has also called Mamdani “a total nut job” and hinted that he might take direct action in New York City if Mamdani wins the mayoral seat. During a tour of a new migrant detention facility in Florida, Trump responded to questions about Mamdani’s pledge to oppose ICE raids by saying, “Well, then we’ll have to arrest him. Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over them very carefully on behalf of the nation.”
The president further repeated the false claim that Mamdani is in the US illegally, stating, “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything.” In reality, Mamdani became a US citizen several years ago.
Mamdani’s Response and Platform
Mamdani, 33, has not backed down in the face of presidential attacks. He insists that Trump’s rhetoric is meant to scare not just him, but all New Yorkers who oppose harsh immigration policies. “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. We will not accept this intimidation,” Mamdani declared.
Running on a progressive platform, Mamdani advocates for free public buses, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes for rent-stabilized apartments, and higher taxes on wealthy neighborhoods. When asked if he is a communist, Mamdani replied, “No,” clarifying that while he opposes billionaires, he wants to work with everyone to improve the city.
Historic Candidacy and Polling Lead
Born in Uganda and moving to New York as a child, Mamdani would become the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected. His campaign has energized progressive voters and immigrant communities, and recent polls show him leading both incumbent mayor Eric Adams and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa ahead of the November election.
As the campaign intensifies, the clash between Mamdani’s vision for a more inclusive New York and Trump’s hardline rhetoric is shaping up to be a defining battle in the city’s political future.
