Key points
- Trump calls Mamdani a “pure communist”
- “I am not a communist”: Mamdani
- Mamdani pledges 800pc boost to anti-hate crime funding
- Aims to protect Jewish communities, fight antisemitism
ISLAMABAD: President Donald J Trump has warned that he will cut off federal funding to New York City if Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is elected in November and fails to “do the right thing.” Trump branded Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as a “pure communist,” claiming his leadership would be disastrous for the city.
“I think he admits it. If he wins and I’m president, he’ll have to act properly or he won’t get any money,” Trump said. “He’s a communist, and that’s who may be running New York,” according to the Independent.
Mamdani responded on NBC’s Meet the Press, denying Trump’s characterisation and criticising the president’s remarks as distractions. “I am not a communist,” he stated. “Trump talks about my appearance, background, and identity to divert from what I stand for — policies to support working people he once claimed to champion but has since abandoned.”
Democratic socialism
Mamdani cited Martin Luther King Jr to explain his democratic socialist stance: “Call it democracy or democratic socialism, but there must be better wealth distribution for all.” He added that inequality in New York has worsened, and he wants a city where all can prosper.
Moderator Kristen Welker pressed Mamdani on the controversial slogan “globalise the intifada,” asking if he condemned it. “That’s not [the] language I use,” Mamdani responded, emphasising his commitment to universal human rights for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Anti-hate initiatives
He acknowledged concerns from Jewish residents and stressed his pledge to increase funding for anti-hate initiatives by 800 per cent.
Welker continued to press, and Mamdani reaffirmed his intent to protect Jewish communities and fight antisemitism through action, not rhetoric.
He also criticised Trump for “criminalising speech,” referencing the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a New Yorker jailed over allegedly inflammatory speech.
Asked whether billionaires should exist, Mamdani replied, “I don’t think we should have billionaires, especially amid such inequality.” However, he added, “I’ll work with everyone, including billionaires, to build a fairer city.”
