Move comes after rightwing Republican accuses New York City mayoral candidate of concealing support for ‘terrorism’
The Trump administration is considering revoking the U.S. citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral candidate for New York City, as part of a broader crackdown on naturalized citizens accused of misrepresentation during the immigration process.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the possibility of an investigation into Mamdani’s citizenship after Rep. Andy Ogles, a far-right Republican from Tennessee, publicly called for his denaturalization. Ogles claimed Mamdani may have hidden alleged “support for terrorism” when applying for U.S. citizenship.
Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda to Indian parents and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He has drawn national attention—and right-wing backlash—for his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights and progressive immigration policies.
Asked Tuesday about Mamdani’s pledge to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from deporting undocumented residents, former President Donald Trump replied, “Well, then, we’ll have to arrest him,” according to Axios.
Mamdani responded on social media:
“The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, detained, and deported—not because I broke the law, but because I refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.
His words aren’t just an attack on me. They’re a warning to every New Yorker who refuses to stay silent: if you speak up, they’ll come for you.”
The controversy follows Mamdani’s recent win in the Democratic mayoral primary, where he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and other establishment-backed candidates. Since his victory, Mamdani has faced a wave of Islamophobic attacks targeting his Muslim faith and pro-Palestinian positions.
The Trump administration has previously directed the Department of Justice to pursue denaturalization cases against foreign-born U.S. citizens suspected of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealment. Ogles submitted a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting an investigation into Mamdani, citing lyrics from a rap song and his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” as alleged evidence of extremism.
In the letter, Ogles accused Mamdani of referring to members of a foundation convicted of supporting Hamas as “my guys” in a song lyric. On social media, Ogles posted:
“Zohran ‘little Muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy New York. He should be deported.”
When asked about Ogles’s demand, Leavitt said she had not seen the details but added, “Surely if they are true, it’s something that should be investigated.”
The Department of Justice confirmed receipt of Ogles’s letter but declined further comment.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat and vocal Trump critic, condemned the move:
“This is racist bullshit. Trump will do anything to protect billionaires and corporations—even push garbage like this.”
Murphy praised Mamdani’s campaign, saying he “ran on putting power back in the hands of working people. And that terrifies the Mar-a-Lago crowd.”
A self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani has faced intense scrutiny of his activism and past social media posts since his primary win, which was anchored in promises of bold left-wing reform for New York City.
At a recent press conference unveiling a new immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades, Trump escalated his rhetoric, labeling Mamdani “a pure communist” and questioning the legitimacy of his citizenship.
“We don’t need a communist running New York—or this country,” Trump said. “We’ll be watching him very closely. People are saying he’s here illegally. We’ll look into everything.”
He added, “Right now, he’s a communist. Hopefully he turns out to be something less than that.”
Trump also praised current NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent after distancing himself from the Democratic Party. Trump referred to helping Adams during a federal corruption case that was recently dismissed by the Justice Department.
In response, Mamdani wrote:
“Trump praising Eric Adams while threatening me is no surprise. It’s part of the same authoritarian playbook.”
As the 2025 campaign season intensifies, Mamdani’s candidacy—and Trump’s response—are quickly becoming flashpoints in a broader battle over immigration, race, and dissent in American politics.
