Something felt wrong the moment the election numbers started flashing across the screen.
A few aides claimed to have overheard hurried late-night phone calls, and reporters whispered about urgent, closed-door meetings taking place in both Manhattan and Washington. Even before the official projection,
rumors spread that influential power brokers were preparing for a result they had desperately hoped to prevent. And when Zohran Mamdani was finally declared the winner, the speculation intensified—followed almost immediately by a wave of fury from MAGA-aligned voices.
Within hours, the backlash reached a new pitch when Rudy Giuliani decided to weigh in. His six-word comment—sharp, dismissive, and unmistakably confrontational—poured gasoline onto an already raging political fire.
Mamdani, who won the New York City mayoral race with 50.4% of the vote over independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, is scheduled to take office just after midnight on January 1, 2026, as required by city law. Many New Yorkers celebrated the victory as a generational shift. Trump supporters, however, saw it as a nightmare come to life.
Even before Election Day, Donald Trump had issued dire warnings. He labeled Mamdani a “communist,” insisted that federal financial support would be slashed under his presidency if Mamdani won, and urged voters to rally behind Cuomo—whether they liked him or not.
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump posted on his social platform. “Mamdani is not capable.” He argued that voting for Curtis Sliwa would hand the race to Mamdani by accident.
Then came Trump’s most severe threat:
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds beyond the bare minimum to my beloved first home.”
In the days that followed, Trump continued attacking Mamdani’s ideology, insisting that New York City would collapse under his leadership. “A Communist in charge means zero chance of success,” he said. “Why would I fund a sinking ship?”
Mamdani brushed off the rhetoric after his victory—but the criticism from MAGA circles only grew louder. And the latest addition to the chorus was Rudy Giuliani, freshly pardoned by Trump and eager to reenter the political spotlight.
Speaking to the New York Post, Giuliani delivered his six-word command for the incoming mayor:
“Step down and do something else.”
He accused Mamdani of aligning with “Muslim extremism,” referencing Mamdani’s previous appearance with Imam Suraj Wahhaj.
“It’s not that he’s Muslim,” Giuliani said. “I don’t care about that. I care that he backs extremism.”
Once celebrated as “America’s Mayor,” Giuliani didn’t hesitate to escalate his claims. He questioned whether Mamdani could ever receive federal security clearance and described him as a “national danger.” He concluded with sweeping accusations:
“He’s a communist and a sympathizer for Muslim terrorism.”
🔹 Conclusion
Zohran Mamdani may have secured the mayoralty, but the political war surrounding his victory shows no sign of quieting. With Trump threatening financial retaliation, MAGA supporters issuing accusations, and Giuliani branding him a security threat, Mamdani steps into office under a level of pressure few New York City mayors have ever faced.
Whether these warnings reflect genuine fear or calculated political theater will become clearer in the months ahead—but one thing is certain: his leadership will be tested from the very first day.