Donald Trump’s 4-word reaction to left-wing ‘worst nightmare’ who vows to stop him

New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during an election night event (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Donald Trump reacted to Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s mayoral election with a four-word Truth Social post late on Tuesday: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” The message, posted at 10.15pm local time as news outlets projected Mr Mamdani’s win, followed a series of attacks in which the US President described the 34-year-old democratic socialist as a radical threat.

Mr Trump had endorsed Mr Mamdani’s opponent, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and warned that a Mamdani victory would lead to “total collapse” in the city. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self-professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”

US President Donald Trump has branded Zohran Mamdani a 'Jew-hater' (Image: Getty Images)

The comment targeted Mr Mamdani’s criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which he has described as genocide, and his pledge to honour an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Trump also called Mr Mamdani a “Communist candidate” and a “TOTAL FAILURE”. He threatened to cut federal funding to New York City to the “bare minimum required”, saying: “It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required.”

The city’s budget exceeds $100 billion annually and depends on federal support for areas including housing, transit and public safety.

Mr Trump further suggested deporting Mr Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a US citizen in 2018, and raised the possibility of a federal takeover of the city.

With 90% of votes counted from a turnout of more than two million – the highest in a mayoral election in 50 years – Mr Mamdani led Mr Cuomo by nine percentage points. Republican Curtis Sliwa trailed further behind. Mr Mamdani, a state assemblyman, will become New York’s first Muslim mayor, first of South Asian heritage, first born in Africa and youngest in more than a century when he takes office on 1 January.

Mr Mamdani defeated Mr Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June by 13 points. Mr Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations he denies, ran as an independent in the general election. The race followed incumbent mayor Eric Adams’s decision to withdraw from the primary amid a dismissed federal corruption investigation.

At his victory event in Brooklyn, Mr Mamdani told supporters: “New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change.” He pledged to improve life for working-class residents through initiatives including free childcare, free city bus service, city-run grocery stores and a new Department of Community Safety that would deploy mental health workers for certain emergency calls instead of police officers.

Mr Mamdani addressed Mr Trump directly, saying: “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

Defeated mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo (Image: Getty Images)

Mr Cuomo conceded from a Midtown Manhattan venue, describing his campaign as “a caution flag that we are headed down a dangerous, dangerous road” of unfulfillable promises.

He urged supporters not to boo Mr Mamdani’s name and offered to assist the incoming administration.

Mr Sliwa conceded shortly after polls closed, saying: “Good luck [to Mr Mamdani] because if he does well, we do well.” He added a warning: “If you try to implement socialism, if you try to render our police weak and impotent, if you forsake the people’s public safety, we will become the mayor-elect and his supporters’ worst enemies.”

Mr Mamdani’s campaign focused on affordability in a city facing high living costs. Critics, including Mr Cuomo, questioned his limited experience – less than five years in the state legislature – and the feasibility of his proposals. Democratic governor Kathy Hochul has opposed his plans to raise taxes on wealthy residents to fund the initiatives.

Mr Mamdani drew scrutiny for his past calls to defund the New York Police Department, which he described in 2020 as a “racist, anti-queer rogue agency”. He has since apologised for those remarks and said he would ask current police commissioner Jessica Tisch to remain in her role.

The election highlighted tensions within the Democratic Party, with Mr Mamdani’s win seen as a boost for its progressive wing, aligned with figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Mr Cuomo and Mr Sliwa criticised Mr Mamdani’s stance on Israel, with Mr Cuomo claiming it would make Jewish residents feel unsafe.

Mr Mamdani must now assemble his administration and address challenges including budget constraints and relations with state and federal officials. His victory comes amid broader national debates over progressive policies and federal-city dynamics under Mr Trump’s administration.