New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani isn’t backing down after former President Donald Trump called him a “communist lunatic” and suggested deporting him. The 33-year-old democratic socialist, who recently upset establishment favorite Andrew Cuomo in the primary, has become an overnight sensation in progressive politics with his bold platform of universal preschool, free public transit, and taxing billionaires to fund social programs.
Trump didn’t hold back in his criticism, posting on Truth Social that Mamdani was “100% Communist” and threatening to withhold federal funds if he wins. “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,” Trump warned in a Fox News interview. But Mamdani, the son of Ugandan-Indian immigrants, fired back with a sharp five-word retort during an NBC appearance: “We may need to arrest him.”
The feud escalated when Trump doubled down at a Florida press conference near a migrant detention facility, suggesting Mamdani’s citizenship should be investigated and ominously stating, “This nation does not need a communist to roam the streets.” The remarks drew widespread condemnation, with critics accusing Trump of targeting a political opponent through intimidation tactics.
Mamdani, now a rising star in the Democratic Socialists of America, framed Trump’s attacks as part of a broader assault on dissent. “His words aren’t just an attack on me—they’re a message to any New Yorker who dares speak up,” he said in a fiery statement. The Queens assemblyman also slammed incumbent Mayor Eric Adams for echoing Trump’s rhetoric, calling it “a scandal” during a time when working families are struggling.
As the November election approaches, the clash has only amplified Mamdani’s profile, turning the once-obscure state legislator into a national symbol of the progressive resistance. With Republicans like Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles joining the fray with Islamophobic jabs, the battle lines are drawn—and Mamdani seems ready for the fight.
