Will help Mamdani ‘a little bit’, but he must be respectful: Trump

US President Donald Trump weighed in on New York City’s mayoral race on Wednesday, following the historic election of 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Speaking in Miami a day after Mamdani’s victory, Trump said he wants “New York to be successful” and suggested Washington might offer limited support to the new mayor.

“We’ll help him, a little bit maybe,” Trump told a crowd of supporters. “Let’s see how Mamdani does in New York.”

Trump expressed concern over Mamdani’s left-leaning policies, claiming the election represented a loss of “sovereignty” for the city. He did not elaborate on what measures he meant when he said, “We’ll take care of it,” but warned that New York could become a communist stronghold. Trump also suggested that Floridians might soon find refuge from “communism in New York.”

“The decision facing all Americans could not be more clear,” he said. “We have a choice between communism and common sense, between an economic nightmare and an economic miracle.”

The remarks came on the first anniversary of Trump’s own election win against Democrat Kamala Harris. “We rescued our economy, regained our liberty, and together we saved our country on that magnificent night 365 days ago,” he told supporters.

In an interview with Fox News anchor Brett Baier, Trump advised Mamdani to build a constructive relationship with Washington. He warned that the mayor risks losing federal support if he fails to cooperate. “I am willing to talk with him,” Trump said, “but he needs to be respectful of Washington and the financial support the city receives if he wants to succeed.”

Mamdani’s victory marks several milestones. He is the first Muslim mayor of New York City and triumphed despite criticism of his policies and Muslim heritage from conservative commentators, business elites, and Trump himself. During his victory speech, Mamdani told supporters:

“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

The mayoral race was part of a broader Democratic success on Tuesday. The party also secured wins in gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey, signalling a shift in political momentum ahead of next year’s midterm elections, when control of Congress will be contested. In California, voters approved a measure to redraw electoral districts, aiming to curb gerrymandering introduced under Trump’s influence in other states.

Trump declined to accept responsibility for Republican setbacks. On his social media platform Truth Social, he blamed anonymous pollsters, the ongoing federal government shutdown, and the fact that his name was not on the ballot.

Speaking to GOP senators at a White House breakfast, Trump admitted the election results were “not good” and described the outcomes as “an interesting evening” with lessons to be learned. He linked the setbacks to the record-long government shutdown, now in its sixth week, which he said had negatively affected Republican prospects.

Mamdani, meanwhile, did not shy away from confronting Trump directly. In a victory speech, he addressed the president:

“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up! If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And 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.”