Trump Escalates Attacks on NYC Mayoral Nominee Mamdani, Threatens City Funding

New York City’s presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, is pushing back against intensified attacks from former President Donald Trump, who labeled him a “pure communist” and threatened to withhold federal funds from the city if Mamdani is elected and doesn’t “do the right thing.” The confrontation unfolded Sunday, June 29, 2025, during interviews on NBC’s Meet the Press and Fox News.

Mamdani vehemently denied Trump’s communist allegations, stating, “No, I am not.” He suggested Trump’s personal attacks on his appearance, background, and origin are an attempt to distract from Mamdani’s focus on empowering working-class people. Trump’s threat to cut federal funding specifically targeted Mamdani’s commitment to maintaining New York City as a sanctuary city, limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“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 told Fox News. Mamdani, however, reaffirmed his absolute commitment to the sanctuary city policy, contrasting his stance with the current mayor whom he accused of cooperating with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.

Beyond Trump, Mamdani has also faced criticism from establishment Democrats. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand falsely accused him of calling for “global jihad,” a claim she later retracted. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries refused to endorse Mamdani, questioning his stance on phrases like “globalizing the intifada.” Mamdani clarified that he did not use such language and expressed discomfort with the idea of policing speech, drawing a parallel to Trump’s approach.

Identifying as a democratic socialist, Mamdani’s platform centers on economic issues, advocating for rent freezes, free public transit, affordable housing, and increased taxation on billionaires. He also vowed to combat antisemitism by significantly increasing funding for anti-hate crime programs. Despite the backlash, some Democrats, like Senator Chris Van Hollen, have come to Mamdani’s defense, condemning the “flood of anti-Muslim remarks” following his primary victory.

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