President Donald Trump on Wednesday walked back previous and repeated threats of funding cuts to New York City over Tuesday’s election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor.
Speaking in Miami at a forum of business leaders and global athletes to tout his economic achievements, Trump said about Mamdani, “We’ll help him. We want New York to be successful. We’ll help him. A little bit, maybe.”
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Why It Matters
Trump has previously threatened not only to defund the city, but also to arrest and deport Mamdani — if he won. Trump has repeatedly called Mamdani a “communist,” which he also repeated on Wednesday.
“If you want to see what congressional Democrats wish to do to America, just look at the result of yesterday’s election in New York, where their party installed a communist as the mayor of the largest city in the nation,” Trump said.
Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
Trump voiced support for Cuomo the day before the election on Truth Social.
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump wrote.
He also said in the post that if Mamdani were to win, “it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required.”
What To Know
Mamdani directly addressed Trump during his victory speech on Tuesday.
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized American citizen after graduating from college, has spoken out against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” Mamdani said. “So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
More than 2 million New York City residents voted in the election, the largest turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, according to the city’s Board of Elections. Mamdani will be the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa. He will also become New York’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office.
During Mamdani’s first news conference as mayor-elect on Wednesday, he spoke about “Trump-proofing” New York City, which he said involves “protecting those with the least from the consequences of a man with the most power in this country.”
However, Mamdani said he was willing to work with anyone, including Trump, in order to help New Yorkers.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, at a forum on Wednesday: “The communists, Marxists, socialists and globalists had their chance, and they delivered nothing but disaster. And now let’s see how a communist does in New York. We’re going to see how that works out.”
Zohran Mamdani, during a victory speech on Tuesday: “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”
What Happens Next
Mamdani will take office on January 1, 2026.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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