Zohran Mamdani has officially been elected mayor of New York City, making history as the first Muslim to hold the office, and he’s not wasting time making his message clear, especially to Donald Trump.
Speaking to an electric crowd of supporters in Brooklyn on Tuesday night (November 4), Mamdani called out the 79-year-old president directly, promising to confront the politics of division that helped launch Trump’s rise.
“So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” he said to roaring applause.
The newly elected mayor declared New York will be the “light” in a “moment of political darkness,” and emphasized that his win sends a message: “No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election," per The Guardian.
Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the New York mayor. Credit: Michael M. Santiago / Getty
Trump Says He’s "Better-Looking" Than Mamdani
But before Mamdani celebrated his landmark win, the election took a surreal detour when Trump, in a 60 Minutes interview aired last week, was asked about comparisons between himself and the 34-year-old.
CBS reporter Norah O'Donnell suggested that some see Mamdani as a “left-wing version” of Trump - charismatic, populist, and disruptive. The president responded: “Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person.”
Mamdani’s answer? A chuckle and a deadpan dismissal: “My focus is on the cost of living crisis, bro.” The young candidate's ability to stay locked in on his campaign was admired by many people on social media.
"He’s so good at not taking the bait," one user said, while another chimed in: "That's an amazing response actually. It showed maturity, even without comparing to other politicians."
A campaign Rooted In Working-Class Issues
The new mayor, who is a Democratic Socialist and Queens-raised naturalized citizen born in Uganda to Indian-Muslim parents, won the race with an 8-point lead over Independent nominee Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
His campaign focused on affordability in a city many working-class New Yorkers say is slipping out of reach. His proposals include free bus service, universal childcare, and a freeze on rent-stabilized apartments.
He ran with backing from progressive powerhouses, including Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ro Khanna, and picked up key endorsements from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Meanwhile, Cuomo, who had returned to politics with an independent bid, was endorsed by the president, a connection Cuomo eventually tried to downplay.
NYC Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani stands with his wife Rama Duwaji alongside his parents Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair after delivering remarks at his election night watch party. Credit: Michael M. Santiago / Getty
Targeted Attacks And A Bold Response
Mamdani’s identity and politics made him a lightning rod throughout the campaign.
Critics pointed to his lack of executive experience and his strong pro-Palestinian stance.
He also endured a wave of Islamophobic attacks, including a call by Rep. Andy Ogles to have the Department of Justice investigate and revoke his citizenship.
But Mamdani turned those attacks into fuel for his movement. “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” he told supporters on victory night. “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”