During a fiery press conference on Tuesday, July 1, President Donald Trump made headlines by threatening two prominent left-leaning figures: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Speaking to reporters after touring a controversial ICE detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, Trump didn’t hold back.
When asked about Mamdani — who had just secured the Democratic nomination for New York mayor — Trump responded, “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally.” Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. A self-identified Democratic Socialist, he recently defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a major upset.
“We don’t need a communist in this country,” Trump said. “But if we have one, I’ll be watching very closely… We’re going to look at everything.”
Referring to Mamdani’s campaign pledge to stop unmarked ICE agents from detaining undocumented immigrants, Trump added: “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”
Mamdani quickly responded on social media, condemning the president’s threats: “His statements are not just an attack on our democracy but a warning to every New Yorker who dares to speak out — if you do, they’ll come for you. We will not accept this intimidation.”
Trump Revisits Mayorkas Impeachment, Floats Jail Time
Trump also took aim at former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by House Republicans in 2024 for alleged failures at the southern border. Though Mayorkas was acquitted in the Senate, Trump raised the possibility of pursuing criminal charges.
When asked by a reporter why Mayorkas hadn’t faced additional legal consequences, Trump speculated that President Biden had issued him a pardon. Upon learning that no such pardon had been granted, Trump turned to his current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and said, “Take a look at that.”
“What he did is beyond incompetent,” Trump added. “I’ll take a look at that one.”
Musk, Dogecoin, and More Presidential Provocations
Earlier in the day, Trump reignited his feud with Elon Musk, following the tech mogul’s criticism of Trump’s expansive budget proposal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump threatened to launch an investigation into Musk’s federal subsidies, warning, “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back to South Africa. No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric cars — and our country would save a fortune.”
Later, when asked if he would consider deporting Musk — a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2002 — Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.”
He also mocked Musk’s cryptocurrency ties, quipping, “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible?”
Escalating Attacks
Tuesday’s press conference highlighted Trump’s increasingly aggressive posture toward political opponents and critics. With the 2025 election campaign heating up, his rhetoric is drawing both fierce backlash and unwavering support — setting the tone for what could be one of the most divisive election seasons in modern U.S. history.
