New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to arrest and deport him, calling it a direct assault on democracy and a warning to immigrants and dissenters across the nation. “If you speak up, they will come for you,” Mamdani declared, after Trump referred to him as a “communist” and questioned his citizenship without evidence.
Trump, while visiting a Florida detention center on July 2, said Mamdani should be arrested and that his presence in the country would be “closely watched.” He also insinuated that Mamdani might be in the U.S. illegally, though no proof was offered.
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns. He has vowed to block NYC resources from aiding ICE, and proposed a $165 million investment in immigration legal aid. He accused Trump of targeting him for his progressive Muslim immigrant identity and his refusal to allow ICE to “terrorise our city.”
Mamdani gained national attention after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary with 56% of the vote, setting up a high-stakes showdown in the November mayoral election. His platform includes rent freezes, free bus transit, childcare access, corporate tax hikes, and LGBTQIA+ protections.
Trump’s remarks also included support for Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted in 2024 but had his charges dropped earlier this year under controversial circumstances. Mamdani slammed Adams’ alignment with Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, saying: “It is a scandal that Eric Adams echoes this President’s division, distraction and hate.”