Trump Reverses Position on NYC Mayor Mamdani: From Funding Threat to Offering Help

Trump previously declared New York City would face a "complete" disaster if Mamdani were to win the mayoral election.

New Delhi:

After initially threatening to cut federal funding to New York City if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race, US President Donald Trump has dramatically changed his position, now offering to provide "a little help" to ensure New York's success under Mamdani's leadership.

During his address at the America Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, Trump seemed to extend a conciliatory gesture toward the newly elected Mayor Mamdani, indicating he would observe how this victory unfolds.

"The communist, Marxist socialists and globalists had their chance, and they delivered nothing but disaster. And now let's see how a communist does in New York," Trump stated, before adding, "We're going to see how that works out. And we'll help them. We'll help them. We want New York to be successful. We'll help them a little bit, maybe."

Trump's remarks represent a significant shift from his pre-election stance. Just last week on Truth Social, he warned that New York City would face "a complete and total economic and social disaster should Mamdani win."

"His principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful. I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE," Trump had written, urging voters to support former Governor Andrew Cuomo instead.

Trump Claims America "Lost Sovereignty" After Mamdani's Victory

During the Miami forum, Trump claimed that America "lost a little bit of its sovereignty" following Mamdani's mayoral election win. Referring to Mamdani as a "communist," Trump warned that the United States might transform into communist Cuba or socialist Venezuela.

"On November 5, 2024, the American people claimed our government. We restored our sovereignty. We lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York, but we'll take care of it," Trump remarked.

He further predicted that New Yorkers would flee to Florida, saying, "Now the Democrats are so extreme that Miami will soon be the refuge for those fleeing communism in New York City. They flee... Where do you live? New York City, but I'm trying to leave because I don't want to live in a communist regime."

Mamdani's Historic Victory and Powerful Response

On Wednesday, Zohran Mamdani made history as the first Indian-American Muslim elected Mayor of New York, defeating independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

In his victory speech, Mamdani quoted Jawaharlal Nehru's famous 'Tryst with Destiny' address from India's independence in 1947.

He also directly challenged Trump, stating, "Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up."

"To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us... If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him... I will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks," Mamdani declared.