New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is articulating a vision for a post-Trump Democratic Party in New York City, one that is “for something” rather than just “against Donald Trump,” even as Trump threatens to cut off federal funds if Mamdani “doesn’t behave” after his election. Mamdani continues to deny Trump’s “communist” label.
Trump’s warning, delivered during a Fox News interview, underscores his deep opposition to Mamdani’s progressive policies, which he perceives as ideologically extreme. The potential withholding of over $100 billion in federal funds represents an unprecedented attempt by a sitting president to influence a local election outcome through financial leverage.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Mamdani stated, “Ultimately what we’re showing is that by putting working people first, by returning to the roots of the Democratic party, we actually have a path out of this moment where we’re facing authoritarianism in Washington DC” under the Trump administration. He reiterated his inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. and his tax plan.
Mamdani’s primary victory, while causing apprehension among some moderate Democrats, has been enthusiastically received by progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He remains confident in his approach, asserting that his focus on working people aligns with the core values of the Democratic Party and offers a way forward for the city, beyond the immediate political sparring with Trump.