Zohran Mamdani’s historic election in the New York City mayoral race Tuesday sent President Donald Trump and his allies into immediate hysterics, with figures on the MAGA right like House Speaker Mike Johnson lamenting the “dangerous” democratic socialist—and seeking to cast him as the figurehead of a Democratic Party that has so far only tentatively embraced him. “Democrats in New York City have chosen a true extremist and Marxist,” the House speaker posted, “and the consequences will be felt across our entire nation.”
Other MAGA figures joined the pile-on: “We have a major Islam problem in America,” the racist conspiracy theorist and Trump adviser Lara Loomer posted on X. (Loomer appeared particularly incensed that Mamdani quoted the labor activist and socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs in his victory speech: “Mamdani is an enemy combatant,” she wrote.) “Congratulations NYC,” wrote Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs. “You just elected an official who despises America and everything our Republic stands for.”
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, a Trump supporter who spent big against Mamdani, was notably cordial after the results were called: “Congrats on the win,” he posted, telling Mamdani he had a “big responsibility” and offering to help the mayor-elect. But most in MAGA world sounded a bleaker note. “RIP NYC,” Utah Senator Mike Lee added, along with a crying emoji. “Join me for a moment of silence for NYC,” wrote Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Thoughts & prayers.”
The right-wing freakout has been going since June, when Mamdani’s upset win in the Democratic primary put him on track to become the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city—and one whose unabashedly progressive politics seemed to make even some in his own party’s establishment nervous. “Review every naturalization of the past 30 years—starting with Mamdani,” Florida Republican Randy Fine told the New York Post last month. “If there is any fraud or any violation of the rules we need to denaturalize and deport.” (After Mamdani’s victory, Fine posted that “New York City has fallen,” and “America is next if we don’t stop it.”) In addition to baseless suggestions of terrorist ties and calls to deport him, Republicans like Andy Ogles have fantasized about ways they can keep Mamdani from assuming office.
“This man came to America for one reason,” Ogles, the Tennessee representative, wrote the week before the New York election. “To turn America into an Islamic theocracy.”
Mamdani—who entered election day up by double-digits in polls—triumphed easily over former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after being defeated by Mamdani in this spring’s Democratic primary, and Republican Randy Sliwa. He rode a wave of enthusiasm that has been difficult to come by for Democrats in the second Trump era. But party brass has appeared skittish about him, despite his popularity: Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, was slow to endorse his fellow New Yorker; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also of New York, declined to endorse him at all. Nevertheless, the right-wing has endeavored to cast him as the embodiment of the Democratic Party, whose successes in Tuesday’s off-year election ranged from the democratic socialist Mamdani in New York to the centrist Abigail Spanberger in the Virginia gubernatorial race. Mamdani’s election, Speaker Johnson said, “cements the Democrat Party’s transformation to a radical, big-government socialist party.”
“Florida has welcomed those fleeing communist and socialist regimes for decades,” wrote Senator Rick Scott. “Tonight is no different—Florida will welcome all freedom-loving New Yorkers!”
One of those New York to Florida transplants, of course, had thoughts on the election—before and after the vote. In a 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday, Trump teased his grudging support for Cuomo, the disgraced former New York governor he’d sparred with during the COVID crisis five years ago. “If it’s going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist,” Trump said, “I’m going to pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you.” Mamdani, who’d been describing Cuomo as the Trump choice for mayor, welcomed the move: “Congratulations,” the assembly member posted. “I know how hard you worked for this.”
On the eve of the election, Trump more formally announced his support for Cuomo: “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not,” Trump wrote, “you really have no choice.” He also said that Jewish New Yorkers who vote for Mamdani—a critic of the Israeli government—are “stupid,” and threatened to cut federal funds from the city if he was elected. “AND SO IT BEGINS,” Trump posted as Mamdani claimed victory.
Mamdani’s response: “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said in a rousing victory speech Tuesday. “Hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
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