Trump warns Mamdani to ‘be respectful’ of Washington after historic New York win
Trump has said he is willing to assist New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani but cautioned that the new leader must be “respectful”
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to assist New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani but cautioned that the new leader must be “respectful” toward Washington to succeed.
Trump made the comments on Wednesday, a day after Mamdani unveiled his transition team following his historic victory as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor.
Responding to Mamdani’s vow to “stand up to Trump” in his victory speech, the president told Fox News’ Bret Baier that the mayor-elect’s words were a “dangerous statement.”
“He has to be a little bit respectful of Washington, because if he’s not, he doesn’t have a chance of succeeding,” Trump said. “And I want to make him succeed. I want to make the city succeed.”
Trump then clarified that he wanted New York City, not necessarily Mamdani, to succeed.
Earlier in the day, while addressing the American Business Forum in Miami, Trump again criticized Mamdani, calling him a “communist,” but added that his administration would “help him a little bit.”
“The communists, Marxists, and globalists had their chance, and they delivered nothing but disaster,” Trump said. “Now let’s see how a communist does in New York. We’ll help him, we’ll help him. We want New York to be successful.”
During the campaign, Trump had frequently attacked Mamdani, labeling him a “communist lunatic” and threatening to cut federal funding if he won.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has dismissed Trump’s accusations, saying his agenda—free universal childcare, free public buses, and government-run grocery stores—aims to improve equity, not impose communism.
His victory has been hailed as a major moment for progressives within the Democratic Party, which continues to struggle between its centrist and left-leaning factions.
In his victory address, Mamdani called his campaign a model for defeating Trumpism, urging the president to “turn the volume up.”
On Wednesday, he reiterated both his opposition to Trump’s policies and his openness to dialogue.
“I will not mince my words when it comes to President Trump,” Mamdani said. “I will continue to describe his actions as they are, while leaving a door open to have that conversation.”
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
