In a heated reaction to a major political upset, former US President Donald Trump lashed out at Zohran Mamdani—the surprise winner of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary—labeling him a “pure communist” during a Sunday Fox News appearance.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and immigrant from Uganda, stunned political insiders last week by defeating a once-dominant contender marred by past scandals. His grassroots campaign struck a chord with New Yorkers struggling under the weight of high rents and unaffordable living costs, promising bold proposals like free public daycare and bus services.
But while his message resonated with many working-class voters, it also drew fire from Trump. “He’s a radical leftist… lunatic,” Trump declared during his appearance on Sunday Morning Futures. He warned that if Mamdani were elected, “they’re not getting any money” from the federal government unless they fall in line with his policies.
Trump’s harsh comments are part of a larger Republican strategy aimed at portraying Democrats as extremists, hoping to shift the political center to the right ahead of key elections.
Mamdani, however, remained calm in the face of the attacks. Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, he firmly denied being a communist. “No, I am not,” he said. “But I’ve already come to terms with the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I’m from—because he wants to distract from what I’m fighting for.”
Mamdani, who could become New York’s first Muslim mayor, emphasized that he’s standing up for working people—the very demographic Trump once vowed to uplift. “He betrayed them,” Mamdani said.
Despite Democrats holding a massive voter edge in New York City, Mamdani’s road to victory in November remains complex. Current mayor Eric Adams is seeking re-election as an independent, and former governor Andrew Cuomo is also rumored to run without party affiliation.
As Mamdani puts it, “This race isn’t about political labels. It’s about real people—and the real problems they’re facing every day in this city.”
