President Donald Trump is warning that New York City’s access to federal funding could be in jeopardy if Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani becomes the city’s next mayor. Trump condemned Mamdani—who just won the Democratic primary over former Governor Andrew Cuomo—as a “100% communist lunatic” and suggested his election could have serious financial consequences for the city.
“He’s a communist,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. “I think it’s very bad for New York… If he does get in, I’m going to be president, and he’s going to have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money.”
“Whoever is mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves,” Trump said. “Or the federal government is going down very tough on them financially.”
The comments underscore Trump’s longstanding hostility toward progressive urban leadership and mark a renewed strategy of using federal leverage to challenge blue-state governance.
Mamdani, a sitting New York State Assemblymember and vocal democratic socialist, secured a surprise victory in the Democratic primary last week, defeating Cuomo in a crowded and divisive race. While Mamdani has energized a progressive coalition in the city, he faces an unusual general election landscape.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who lost the Democratic nomination, has announced he will run as an independent. Cuomo is also reportedly considering continuing his campaign as a third-party candidate, setting up a potential three-way contest in November.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he lamented that Democrats had “crossed the line” by supporting Mamdani’s mayoral bid. In true Trump fashion, his criticisms were not only political but personal: “He looks terrible, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart,” Trump wrote. “He’s got AOC+3, dummies all, backing him, and even our great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him.”
Federal funds are generally allocated through congressional appropriations and tied to compliance with specific federal laws.
If Mamdani wins in November, it could set up an explosive showdown between a self-proclaimed democratic socialist mayor and a president known for unconventional political maneuvers. At stake could be billions in federal support for infrastructure, housing, transportation, and social programs in the nation’s largest city.
As Trump positions himself for a return to the presidency with vows to “restore law and order” and “crush the radical left,” Mamdani’s win gives him a new foil—and possibly a central battleground in the ongoing culture war.
READ NEXT: Zohran Mamdani Faces Backlash After Declaring ‘No’ To Capitalism On CNN
I would like to see Cuomo and the others withdraw and back Mayor Eric Adams. I think he has the best chance of beating Mamdani.