Share with:

Trump escalates attacks on Mamdani, who says the president is attacking democracy

Story by Brianna Tucker, Sarah Ellison

• 1d •

3 min read

Trump escalates attacks on Mamdani, who says president is attacking democracy

Trump escalates attacks on Mamdani, who says president is attacking democracy© David Delgado/Reuters

President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated his attacks on Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Democratic nominee for New York mayor, saying he’d have him arrested if he blocks Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in New York.

“Well, then we’ll have to arrest him,” Trump said while visiting a temporary migrant detention center in Florida. “Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over them very carefully on behalf of the nation.” Top 5 Advantages Of Owning Physical Gold And Silver

Top 5 Advantages Of Owning Physical Gold And Silver

Gold And Silver Kit

Learn more

Mamdani issued a statement in response to the president’s comments, calling them an attack on democracy and an intimidation tactic — though the mayoral candidate included specific accusations that Trump didn’t make in his Tuesday remarks.

“The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city,” Mamdani said in a statement.

“His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation,” Mamdani, 33, added.

Mamdani was born in Uganda to Indian parents; he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018 and serves as a New York State Assembly member representing parts of Queens.

about:blank

President, your beloved New York City, your beloved New York

Loaded: 47.62%Play

Current Time 0:01

Duration 0:35Quality SettingsCaptionsFullscreen

The Washington Post

Trump questions Mamdani’s citizenship, threatens with arrestUnmute

View on Watch

A self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani sent shock waves across the Democratic Party establishment last week with a surprising performance in the mayoral Democratic primary. Former New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo conceded the primary on election night, launching Mamdani one step closer to becoming the first Muslim American to run America’s largest city. Mamdani officially clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday after the ranked-choice voting results were finalized. 2012 Ford E-450 4x2 Step Van

2012 Ford E-450 4×2 Step Van

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Learn more

He has won the endorsements of some politicians, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), but his primary win has been viewed as a major political upset to many in the party’s old guard.

In the week since Mamdani’s impressive showing, powerful donors, lobbyists and political consultants in the Democratic and Republican parties have sought to dismantle his candidacy and platform, which supports policies such as free city bus services, freezing rent on rent-stabilized apartments, launching city-owned grocery stores and programs that offer free early child care.

While Mamdani’s campaign largely focused on the affordability crisis facing New Yorkers — and his plan to tax wealthy individuals and corporations to address it — he also found himself embroiled in controversy over his views on Israel and Gaza. As he seeks to become the first Muslim mayor of New York, which houses the largest Jewish population of any city outside Israel, Mamdani hasn’t shied away from criticizing Israel’s handling of the war, saying he would arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to the city. Since election night, Republicans and pro-Israel groups have resurfaced clips of Mamdani embracing pro-Palestinian positions that his critics have branded as antisemitic. Arizona: These Walk In Tubs Are Cheap (See Prices)

Arizona: These Walk In Tubs Are Cheap (See Prices)

Walk In Tub Discounts

Learn more

Beyond policy criticism, Mamdani also faced an onslaught of Islamophobic attacks and baseless questions about his citizenship status, including from Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) who referred to Mamdani as “little muhammad,” called for him to be deported and asked the Justice Department to investigate him.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) apologized Monday to Mamdani in a phone call between the two for “mischaracterizing” his record, according to a readout of their call provided by Gillibrand’s office.

On a New York radio show last week, Gillibrand had said Jewish New Yorkers she’s spoken to are “alarmed” by Mamdani’s past public statements and said Mamdani should denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who has shied from making any endorsement in the mayoral race, denounced Trump’s threat to deport Mamdani in a post on X.

“I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me,” she said.

Matt Viser, Toluse Olorunnipa and Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.

Sponsored

Visit The Washington Post

Corn Chowder With Barbecue Sauce Butter

Diddy partially acquitted in sex-trafficking trial, denied release

Congressional intern from Massachusetts killed in D.C. shooting

Sponsored