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What To Know<\/p>\nDemocratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has warned U.S. President Donald Trump that he will \u201cbe there to fight him\u201d if he \u201ccomes after\u201d New York.<\/p>\n
Asked what his message to Trump would be in an interview, Mamdani said: \u201cMy message would be that if you ever want to get on the phone to talk about how we can actually deliver on the promise that you made to the American people of lowering the cost of living, I\u2019m always ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you want to speak about how you can make life more difficult for New Yorkers, by coming after so many in this city and the fabric of the city itself, then I\u2019ll be there to fight you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newsweek has contacted the White House, via email, for comment.<\/p>\n
Why It Matters<\/p>\n
The New York City mayoral race has garnered national attention as Mamdani, a democratic socialist directly addresses Trump and positions himself as a stark contrast to both the current political establishment and his rivals.<\/p>\n
With the withdrawal of incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and endorsements from prominent progressive leaders, Mamdani’s candidacy signals shifting political dynamics in America\u2019s largest city.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s direct engagement and threats of limiting federal funding underscore the national stakes and foreshadow major confrontations over urban policy, federal-state relations and the Democratic Party\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
What To Know<\/p>\n
Mamdani delivered his warning in an interview with The Good Liars, a political satirical duo made up of Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people keep saying you\u2019re a communist,\u201d Selvig said. \u201cCan we put this to bed right now? Are you a communist?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a communist,\u201d Mamdani answered, \u201cI\u2019m a democratic socialist, but I anticipate that the president will continue to call me whatever comes to his mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Good Liars clip then cuts to a snippet of Trump saying: \u201cI call him my little communist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you become mayor, you\u2019re gonna have to deal with Donald Trump,\u201d Selvig said. “What\u2019s your message to Donald Trump right now?\u201d<\/p>\n
That is when Mamdani said he would be open to cooperating with Trump about lowering the cost of living, but warned of a fight if Trump wants to \u201cmake life more difficult for New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani currently leads the New York City mayoral race after winning the Democratic nomination over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now an independent candidate, as outgoing Adams exited the race in September.<\/p>\n
At 33-years-old, Mamdani has risen quickly from state assemblymember to the forefront of city politics, enjoying backing from figures including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often known as AOC.<\/p>\n
The race remains closely watched, with Republican Curtis Sliwa also on the ballot. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Mamdani\u2019s campaign constitutes a radical threat to the city and has threatened to withhold federal funding should he win. “He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City\u2026He won’t be getting any of [the money], so what’s the point of voting for him?” Trump wrote<\/a> on Truth Social<\/p>\n What People Are Saying<\/p>\n