Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, pushed back against Donald Trump’s false claims and economic threats in a national interview. Trump labeled Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic†and threatened to cut off federal funding if Mamdani maintains New York’s sanctuary city policies. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, denied the communist label, saying, “I’m fighting for the very working people that he has since then betrayedâ€. He dismissed Trump’s attacks as distractions rooted in xenophobia and vowed to stand firm on his progressive platform, which includes rent freezes, free busing, and taxing billionaires. Mamdani criticized the current mayor for cooperating with federal immigration enforcement and pledged to protect New Yorkers' rights regardless of status. He also addressed misleading accusations from Democrats, including a false claim by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand that he supported “global jihadâ€. Mamdani said he rejects speech policing and stands for universal human rights. As a Muslim who became a citizen in 2018, Mamdani emphasized his commitment to protecting all communities, including increasing anti-hate crime funding. “We have to stand up and fight back,†he said, positioning himself as a candidate unafraid to challenge both Trump and the Democratic establishment.
