Democratic Socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said US President Donald Trump is "threatened" by his campaign, after Trump warned voters that the city would face a "complete and total economic and social disaster" if Mamdani won today's ( 4 November) mayoral election.
"You can clearly see that Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign," Mamdani told CNN yesterday, the eve of the election. "He's threatened because, like him, we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives — the cost of living. But unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on it."
Mamdani criticised Trump for "wasting" $300 million on remodelling a White House ballroom — funds he said could instead provide food assistance to 100,000 New Yorkers through the federal SNAP program, which has been affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump, meanwhile, threw his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, warning voters that the city would have "zero chance of survival" under Mamdani's leadership. "If Communist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election for mayor, I will not contribute federal funds beyond the bare minimum required," Trump said in a statement. "This once great city will be a complete and total economic and social disaster should Mamdani win."
Responding to Trump's remarks, Mamdani said, "This money we're talking about is money that New York City is owed. It's not Donald Trump's place to decide which city or state gets what. We will fight for what's rightfully ours."
Trump urged voters to back Cuomo, saying, "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him."
The 34-year-old Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani, serves as a New York State Assembly member and is running as the Democratic nominee. He faces off against Cuomo, who is contesting as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Trump labelled Mamdani a "Communist with no experience and a record of total failure," saying he has "no chance" to restore New York to its former glory.
Mamdani dismissed Trump's endorsement of Cuomo as proof that both men share the same billionaire backers. "Now it's written out for the entire world to see," he said. "This is the man Donald Trump wants to be mayor — not because he'll be good for New Yorkers, but because he'll be good for Donald Trump."
Current Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race in September amid corruption scandals. Over 735,000 people voted early this year, nearly four times the number recorded in 2021, according to the New York City Board of Elections.
Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June, has emerged as the front-runner in the race. He has pledged to freeze rents for stabilised tenants, expand affordable housing, and "make life easier" for working-class New Yorkers struggling with rising costs.
Zohran Mamdani / Trump / NYC