President Donald Trump blasts presumptive NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, says no 'communist' should run city

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that the federal government could step in to run New York if Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wins November’s election.

Trump, responding to reporters’ questions at a Cabinet meeting, said he was "not getting involved" in the mayoral race, but continued his ongoing attacks against Mamdani, a democratic socialist whom Trump has repeatedly labeled a "communist."

"If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same. But we have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to," Trump said, noting that his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has been designated to work with the local Washington, D.C., government on reducing area crime.

In a statement, Mamdani's campaign said: "Donald Trump has once again chosen to treat democracy like a suggestion and insult the more than half a million New Yorkers who voted for Zohran Mamdani’s leadership and a city they can afford. Zohran Mamdani won with a mandate, receiving the most primary votes in New York City history and as mayor, he will not allow Donald Trump to tear this city apart. Instead, he will be a model for what leadership should look like: laser-focused on the cost-of-living crisis and protecting the freedoms and liberties that make this country incomparable."

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman representing northwest Queens, last month shocked the political establishment by trouncing the longtime front-runner, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose name recognition, experience and support from billionaires and corporations made him the favorite.

Mamdani's youth-powered campaign has promised to expand social programs — funded in part by taxing the rich and big corporations — including free public buses, free child care, several municipal-run grocery stores and a rent freeze on regulated apartments.

Running as an avowed critic of Trump, Mamdani has made the president an occasional target in the mayoral race.

In Mamdani’s election-night speech, he cast his victory as a rejoinder to Trump and his administration.

"For too long, New Yorkers have strained to find a leader who represents us, who puts us first, and we have been betrayed time and again. After so many disappointments, the heart hardens. Belief becomes elusive," Mamdani said. "And when we no longer believe in our democracy, it only becomes easier for people like Donald Trump to convince us of his worth."

Last week, Trump said he'd have "a lot of fun" with Mamdani, and in the remarks Tuesday, Trump, a native New Yorker, promised "to straighten out New York, and maybe I'm going to straighten it out from Washington."

Trump on Tuesday didn’t use Mamdani’s name but called him "not very capable," before saying Cuomo "does have capabilities ... but he got knocked out."

Trump ticked off the list of other mayoral contenders — incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is staging an independent bid, and Republican talk radio host Curtis Sliwa — before stating "I’m not getting involved," prompting laughter from members of his Cabinet.

Trump has repeatedly taken aim at Mamdani since his primary victory, suggesting last week he would investigate his immigration status, because "a lot of people are saying he's here illegally." Mamdani, who was born in Uganda to parents of Indian descent, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

Speaking to reporters Monday evening at a White House dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said Mamdani "better behave. Otherwise, he will have big problems."

"He needs the money through the White House," Trump said. "He needs a lot. He will behave."

Also at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting:

• Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on imported copper, saying he would sign an executive order on Tuesday declaring the tariff, but he did not specify when it would go into effect. He also said he will soon be announcing tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs at a "very, very high rate, like 200%."
• He said the United States will resume sending weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression after the Pentagon last week paused shipment of weapons. Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying "he's not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people. So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine and I have approved that."
• Trump chastised a reporter for asking Attorney General Pam Bondi about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who authorities have said died by suicide in a Manhattan jail as he awaited trial on charges of human trafficking. "I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this where we're having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration," Trump said.