Zohran Mamdani Challenges Trump After Historic NYC Mayoral Win
Following his victory in the New York City mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani used his acceptance speech to directly address former President Donald Trump.
Mamdani’s win is historic: at 34, he becomes the youngest mayor of New York City in a century, as well as the first South Asian and Muslim to hold the office.
According to BBC, he received 50.4% of the vote, defeating his main rivals Andrew Cuomo (41.6%) and Curtis Sliwa (7%).
A Democratic socialist, Mamdani has outlined progressive policies such as taxing the city’s wealthiest residents, establishing a universal daycare program, and introducing “fast and free” city buses, according to CNN.
Before the election, Trump openly endorsed Cuomo, telling 60 Minutes: “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 even suggested he might withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani won.
In his November 4 victory speech, Mamdani celebrated the city’s decision, saying, “Hope is alive,” and identifying himself as “young,” “Muslim,” and a “democratic socialist,” adding, “And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
Turning to Trump, he declared, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. This is not only how we stop Trump. It’s how we stop the next one. So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: ‘Turn the volume up.’”
Mamdani emphasized his agenda to combat inequality and corruption, promising to hold landlords accountable, challenge exploitation by wealthy elites, and confront tax loopholes used by billionaires like Trump. He also pledged to support labor unions, strengthen workers’ rights, and empower employees, noting that organized workers make exploitative bosses “very small indeed.”
Highlighting New York’s immigrant heritage, he said, “New York will remain a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.” He concluded with a direct message to Trump: “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Trump reacted on Truth Social, writing, “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” Mamdani is scheduled to take office on January 1, New Year’s Day.