Zohran Mamdani is a "communist lunatic" who will "crush" New York City if elected mayor, says President Trump.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump had previously threatened to pull federal funding from the city, saying in a Fox News interview that aired Sunday, "I can tell you this – whoever's mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves, or the federal government is coming down very tough on them financially."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Mamdani would "crush" New York City if he is elected mayor.
Fox News' White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Leavitt about recent calls for Mamdani to be deported, citing calls from one lawmaker who said Mamdani should be denaturalized.
"I haven't heard him say that. I haven't heard him call for that. But certainly he does not want this individual to be elected. I was just speaking to him about it and [Mamdani's] radical policies that will completely crush New York City, which is obviously a city that the president holds near and dear to his heart," Leavitt responded.
SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND URGES ZOHRAN MAMDANI TO DENOUNCE 'GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA' RHETORIC
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House. (AP Photo)
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Mamdani made waves earlier this week for refusing multiple times to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" during an appearance on MSNBC.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
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