New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani spoke to supporters at a canvass launch event in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)
Following Mamdani's primary victory, Trump immediately criticized him as a "100% Communist Lunatic."
The president has continued to repeatedly deride Mamdani as a communist in the ensuing months, while warning that New York City would become "a communist city" if Mamdani wins November's mayoral election.
"I call him my little communist. He's my little communist mayor," Trump said of Mamdani during an extended studio interview Friday on Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
Trump, in his social media post, also hinted at restricting federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins November's mayoral election.
"How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!" the president said.
POLL POSITION: JUST HOW LARGE IS MAMDANI'S LEAD IN THE NYC MAYORAL RACE?
Mamdani proposes eliminating fares on New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5 and setting up government-run grocery stores.
But Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and would become New York City's first Muslim and first millennial mayor if elected, has denied being a communist.
Hochul, in her endorsement, wrote that "New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers. That’s @ZohranKMamdani."
New York City mayoral candidates, from left to right, Democratic Party nominee Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is also running as an independent, and Republican Party nominee Curtis Sliwa. (Getty Images)
Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who for a second straight election is the Republican mayoral nominee in the Democrat-dominated city, was a distant third in the polls, with embattled incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent after deciding to skip the Democratic primary amid anemic polling, further down in fourth place.
Both Sliwa and Adams have repeatedly committed to staying in the race in recent weeks amid multiple reports that Trump's advisors floated administration roles for both mayoral hopefuls if they dropped out.
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On Sunday, following a new report that Adams would drop out in the coming days, the mayor's spokesman fired back.
"Let me be perfectly clear: Any rumor or tweet suggesting Mayor Adams is stepping down this week is complete bulls---," spokesman Todd Shapiro wrote in a statement. "These lies are being spread by desperate opponents who can’t match the mayor’s record, his campaign energy, or his support across this city."
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-weighs-blue-state-governors-endorsement-liddle-communist