Zohran Mamdani has been elected the new Mayor of New York City, and he wasted no time in calling out Donald Trump.
Mamdani's win is nothing short of historic, as he becomes the first openly socialist, first Muslim, and first South Asian mayor, per The Guardian.
While his victory has inspired many across the world, other political areas are reeling in what is being seen as a huge blow to Donald Trump and his government.
Mamdani Calls Out Trump
In his victory speech, Mamdani laid out a sweeping progressive agenda aimed at countering what he called the “politics of division and cronyism” that helped elevate Trump.
“Here we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall,” Mamdani said.
“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election.”
Mamdani is New York City's new mayor. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty
He sent a pointed message to the White House: “So, if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.
"This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Looking ahead, Mamdani emphasized his policy priorities: holding landlords accountable, ending a “culture of corruption” benefiting the billionaire class, and expanding labour protections by standing alongside unions.
“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 stated.
“So hear me President Trump when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us. When we enter city hall in 58 days, expectations will be high,” he added. “We will meet them.”
Mamdani called out Donald Trump. Credit: Michael M. Santiago / Getty
A Mandate from the Voters
Shortly after polls closed at 9:00PM, the race was called in Mamdani’s favour, sparking jubilation at his Brooklyn campaign watch party.
“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city that we can afford and a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that,” he declared from the stage after 11:00PM.
By midnight, with nearly 98 % of precincts reporting, Mamdani led with 50.4 % of the vote versus independent candidate Andrew Cuomo’s 42 %, while GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa trailed at 7.1 %.
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” Mamdani announced. “I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in his private life but that [will be] the final time I utter his name.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump had entered the fray: he endorsed Cuomo on the eve of the election and warned of federal funding being withheld if Mamdani prevailed.
Once Mamdani’s win was clear, Trump posted on Truth Social: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”