Trump slams New York City socialist and presumptive mayoral nominee who wants to ‘Trump-proof’ NYC

A Democratic socialist who is on track to win New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary has promised to “Trump-proof” the Big Apple, make it an “LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City,” and spend $65 million on gender-transitioning services, including for minors.

A Muslim born in Uganda, Zohran Mamdani is endorsed by far-left politicians and groups such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. In a major upset Tuesday during the city’s mayoral primary, Mamdani led with 43.5% of the vote against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who earned only 36.4%.

“It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line,” President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling Mamdani a “Communist Lunatic” who is “on his way” to becoming the city’s next mayor. “We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous.” 

Because New York City uses ranked choice voting, a candidate must receive more than 50% of votes to win outright, meaning the final outcome isn’t expected to be determined until next week. Regardless, Cuomo conceded on Tuesday night and Mamdani declared victory. 

“Tonight was not our night; tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night, and he put together a great campaign and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote,” Cuomo said at an event Tuesday night, ABC News reported. “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won. We’re going to take a look and make some decisions,” he said, widely interpreted as a reference to potentially running as an independent candidate. 

If Mamdani wins, it marks more than a humiliating defeat for Cuomo – a New York political veteran and former governor who was attempting a comeback following a sexual harassment scandal. It also signals that in Trump’s second term, a divided Democratic party is moving further away from the establishment and amplifying far-left voices. 

Mamdani’s platform includes making New York City a “refuge for LGBTQIA+ people” by promoting gender-transition services, including for minors, across the city. He has promised to not only make New York City an “LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City,” but also plans to create an “Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.”  

“The Mamdani administration will protect gender-affirming care immediately by investing $65 million in public providers to provide gender-affirming care to New Yorkers who seek it and will hold private entities abetting Trump’s attacks to account,” his platform states. Mamdani said he would “hold private hospital systems” accountable for denying transgender youth transitions, including through investigating them and holding public hearings on them.  

Much of Mamdani’s platform centers around promises to lower the cost of living, which he says he would do by implementing fare-free buses, freezing rent for “all stabilized tenants,” and creating city-owned grocery stores that would not have to “pay rent or property taxes.” He also promised to “Trump-proof” the city by ending cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, adding funding for immigration services, increasing corporate taxes, and raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour, among other policy goals. 

“Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani and his thousands of grassroots supporters for their extraordinary campaign. You took on the political, economic and media Establishment – and you beat them,” Sen. Sanders wrote on X Tuesday night.  

Republicans have been quick to condemn the Democratic socialist candidate, warning it will have ripple effects and add to New York City’s existing issues. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik said a “radical, Defund-the-Police, Communist, raging Antisemite will most likely win the New York City Democrat Mayoral primary,” noting that New York’s governor and Democratic party have “fully embraced Marxism, antisemitism, anti-capitalism, and sheer insanity.” 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also chimed in: “Just when you thought Palm Beach real estate couldn’t go any higher,” implying the socialist’s win would lead to a mass exodus of New Yorkers to Florida. 

Featured image: Bingjiefu He – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0