WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that New York City (NYC) could lose federal funding if Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election and fails to “behave.”
Speaking in an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday, Trump labelled Mamdani “a pure communist” and said it would be “inconceivable” for someone like him to become mayor.
“If he gets elected and doesn’t do the right thing, New York’s not getting any money,” Trump said bluntly.
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Trump also criticised Mamdani’s controversial proposals, including his opposition to immigration crackdowns and his call to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York. The former president dismissed these ideas as “radical” and “very unsuccessful.”
Trump added, “It’s shocking” that Mamdani had secured the nomination in such a key Democratic stronghold.
Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary in the strongly blue city, rejected Trump’s accusations.
In a separate appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Mamdani denied being a communist but reiterated his stance on taxing the city’s wealthiest residents. “I don’t think we should have billionaires,” he said, calling for more equitable distribution of wealth.
According to the city’s comptroller, New York receives more than $100 billion annually from the federal government through various programs and agencies.