On Wednesday, President Donald Trump sharply criticized Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor of New York City, in a public exchange that quickly became a defining political moment. Mamdani, who identifies as a Democratic socialist, had directly addressed the president during his triumphant victory speech the evening before. In a declaration that combined confidence and provocation, he stated, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.” This remark was not a casual comment but part of a broader statement underscoring Mamdani’s commitment to confronting entrenched problems in New York City, such as exploitative landlords, systemic corruption, and inadequate labor protections—issues on which he sought to draw a sharp contrast between his municipal agenda and what he views as national complacency.
Emphasizing collective defiance, Mamdani continued, proclaiming, “Hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to go through all of us.” His words—both rhetorical and symbolic—framed his administration as one standing in solidarity with ordinary New Yorkers against external political pressure. The rhetorical intensity of the new mayor’s speech evidently struck a nerve with the president. When speaking to Fox News the following day, Trump described the address as “a very angry speech,” suggesting that the tone was unnecessarily hostile for an incoming city leader. Expanding on his remarks, Trump noted that he often has to give approval on matters that reach the federal level concerning city affairs, adding pointedly that Mamdani was “off to a bad start,” a phrase indicating that their relationship could become strained.
When pressed on whether he wanted Mamdani and New York City to succeed under this new leadership, Trump offered a hesitant and conditional response. He asserted that Mamdani “has to be a little bit respectful of Washington because if he’s not, he doesn’t have a chance of succeeding,” implying that cooperation—or at least a display of deference—would be essential for the city to maintain a productive relationship with the federal government. Later that same day, during a conference in Miami, Trump broadened his commentary with more ideologically charged language. Addressing a supportive audience, he quipped that Miami might serve as a refuge for “those fleeing communism in New York City,” a hyperbolic jab aimed at Mamdani’s socialist identity and the political direction he represents. Trump went on to assert, “We lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York, but we’ll take care of it, don’t worry,” framing Mamdani’s election as a symbolic blow to his vision of American governance yet promising that it would be managed decisively.
Following Trump’s media appearances, Business Insider sought a statement from Mamdani’s campaign team to address the president’s comments and rhetoric. However, the campaign did not issue an immediate response, leaving Trump’s remarks unchallenged in the short term. The tension between the two figures did not emerge in isolation. On the eve of the election, Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Mamdani’s opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, through a post on his social media platform Truth Social. The endorsement contained an acerbic tone: Trump declared that he would “much rather see a Democrat win than a communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE.” The statement both reinforced Trump’s disdain for Mamdani’s political orientation and revealed his willingness to back a traditional establishment figure over an avowed socialist.
In that same post, Trump went further by suggesting he might curtail federal financial support for New York City under Mamdani’s administration. He threatened to limit federal funding “outside the very minimum as required,” citing his affection for his “beloved first home” but framing this limitation as a reluctant necessity given the city’s new leadership. These remarks underscored the complex history of Trump’s relationship with New York. Although he officially shifted his primary residence in 2019 from Manhattan to Palm Beach, Florida—specifically to his luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate—his personal and professional origins remain rooted in New York City. Born in Queens in 1946, Trump began his career in real estate within that very borough before expanding the family’s business empire into Manhattan. By the time he was twenty-five, he had assumed control of the enterprise and rebranded it as the Trump Organization, positioning himself as a central figure in the city’s burgeoning real estate landscape.
Throughout the 1980s, Trump’s name became synonymous with New York City’s culture of excess wealth and glittering ambition. His developments, most notably the towering Trump Tower completed in 1983, became both architectural symbols and social statements representing that era’s fascination with luxury, prestige, and power. Nevertheless, despite this deep-rooted legacy, Trump’s relationship with New York’s political establishment has long been marked by friction. When he announced his residential move to Florida in October 2019, he expressed clear resentment toward New York’s leadership, stating at the time that he had been “treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state.” That sentiment, rekindled amid Mamdani’s rise, appears to continue shaping his perception of the city he once called home.
This latest exchange between Trump and Mamdani reflects more than a personal rivalry—it symbolizes the enduring ideological divide between conservative nationalism and progressive municipal idealism. For Trump, New York remains both a crucible of his early success and a site of ongoing political grievance. For Mamdani, it represents an opportunity to redefine power through inclusivity and reform. The confrontation between them sets the stage for what may become a broader debate about governance, loyalty, and the future of America’s most iconic metropolis.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mamdani-off-to-a-bad-start-nyc-mayor-election-2025-11
