President Trump warns far-left New York mayor Zohran Mamdani after fiery anti-Trump victory speech, calls him “communist” and “angry.”
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in Wednesday on the stunning election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s new mayor — a politician known for his anti-Israel rhetoric and radical leftist agenda — warning that the city’s federal funding could face scrutiny if Mamdani “doesn’t behave.”
In a candid interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Trump said he was conflicted about Mamdani’s victory:
“I’m so torn because I would like to see the new mayor do well because I love New York. I really love New York.”
Trump reminisced about his years in the city, recalling that when he left for Washington, “New York was doing really well,” before taking a swipe at former Mayor Bill de Blasio, calling him “the beginning of the bad signs.”
When asked about Mamdani’s left-wing economic views, Trump didn’t mince words:
“For a thousand years, the concept of communism has not worked. I tend to doubt it’s going to work this time — it’s literally never worked.”
Trump also admitted to watching Mamdani’s victory speech, calling it “a very angry speech, certainly angry toward me.” He added pointedly:
“I think he should be very nice to me. You know, I’m the one that sort of has to approve a lot of things coming to him. So he’s off to a bad start.”
The remark was seen by analysts as a clear warning to the new mayor that federal cooperation with his administration will not be automatic.
Just a day before the election, Trump had endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, cautioning voters that a Mamdani victory would bring “severe federal funding cuts.”
In July, Trump went even further, labeling Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and promising not to let him “destroy New York.”
“I think he’s terrible. He’s a communist,” Trump said at the time. “The last thing we need is a communist. I think I’m going to have a lot of fun watching him because he has to come right through this building to get his money.”
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and is an outspoken critic of Israel, used his victory speech Tuesday night to launch a tirade directly at Trump, saying:
“So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
He accused Trump of being part of a corrupt elite, vowing to target “billionaires like Trump” and “bad landlords” — rhetoric that echoed class-warfare themes common to the far-left.
“We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants,” Mamdani said. “We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation.”
Mamdani, who has repeatedly attacked Israel and refused to condemn pro-terror slogans such as “Globalize the Intifada,” pledged to make New York “a city built by immigrants and led by one.”
He ended his speech with a defiant message to Trump:
“To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Political observers say the public feud between the President and the far-left mayor-elect sets the stage for a clash between Washington and New York City unlike any in decades.
Pro-Israel groups have voiced concern that Mamdani’s leadership could embolden antisemitic activism in America’s largest Jewish community, while Trump’s comments signal that the White House will take a firm line against extremist local policies.
“New York may have just elected its most radical mayor in modern history,” said one Jewish leader. “If Trump stands up to him, it won’t just be about politics — it’ll be about protecting America’s values.”
