President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Sunday, threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City if Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani “doesn’t behave himself” should he win in November.
Speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump denounced Mamdani—a Democratic Socialist who recently defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city’s primary—as “a pure communist,” and said his potential leadership would be “inconceivable.”
“If he does get in, I’ll be president, and he’ll have to do the right thing, or they’re not getting any money,” Trump said. “He’s got to behave, or New York’s cut off.”
The warning carries weight. Last year, over $100 billion in federal funding flowed to New York City through various programs, according to the city comptroller.
Mamdani Pushes Back
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Mamdani rejected Trump’s labeling.
“No, I am not a communist,” the 33-year-old candidate stated plainly. “But I’ve already had to get used to the fact that the president will attack how I look, how I sound, and where I’m from—because he wants to distract from what I’m fighting for.”
Mamdani reaffirmed his commitment to raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy and said his vision was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for wealth redistribution.
“I don’t believe we should have billionaires in a city facing such staggering inequality,” Mamdani said. “We need fairness—from the outer boroughs to the wealthiest ZIP codes in Manhattan.”
He emphasized that his tax proposal aims to relieve working-class homeowners and shift the burden to the rich—not based on race, but on economic disparity.
“It’s not about race,” he said. “It’s about assessing which neighborhoods are overtaxed and which are undertaxed. This is about building a fairer city for everyone, including billionaires.”
Democrats Divided
While Mamdani’s win energized progressive circles—he has the endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—many establishment Democrats have been more cautious. Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged “differences” between herself and Mamdani but said she was open to dialogue.
“Ultimately, my vision is rooted in what’s actually happening on the ground,” Mamdani said, adding that he looked forward to working with state leadership.
Asked whether he believes moderate Democrats fear his rise, Mamdani said:
“I think they’re still catching up. Our campaign is about putting working people first—and proving that being ‘for something’ is how we beat authoritarianism, not just by being against Trump.”
Trump Dismisses Mamdani as ‘Radical Left Lunatic’
Reacting to Mamdani’s calls to push back against ICE raids and even hypothetically arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters New York amid ongoing war crime allegations, Trump scoffed.
“He’d be very unsuccessful at that,” Trump said. “He’s a radical left lunatic.”
“It’s shocking,” Trump added. “I used to think we’d never have a socialist in this country.”
Mamdani, for his part, sees the attacks as proof of what’s at stake.
“This campaign was never just about defeating Donald Trump,” he said. “It’s about restoring dignity to working people—and building a city that reflects their needs.”
