WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has reacted to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s victory speech, expressing displeasure with the Indian-American Muslim’s tone during the address.
Trump described the speech as full of anger, adding that Mamdani ought to be nice to him. The President reiterated that the incoming New York Mayor would have to work with him as it is him who would have to approve “a lot of things for him”.
“I thought it was a very angry speech, certainly angry toward me. And I think he should be very nice to me. You know, I’m the one that sort of has to approve a lot of things coming to him. So he’s off to a bad start,” Trump said.
Earlier, Mamdani, who was elected as New York Mayor on Tuesday, vowed to stand up to pressure from the Trump administration. Speaking at a press conference, Mamdani, 34, revealed details about his transition team and stated that his primary challenge is to tackle the “twin crises” of “an authoritarian administration and an affordability crisis”.
Trump had earlier described Mamdani as a communist and suggested that his administration would withhold federal funding from New York City if the 34-year-old won.
“AND SO IT BEGINS!” Trump had posted on Truth Social shortly after Mamdani won. He later said on Fox News that Mamdani could win because of lacklustre opponents.
“He has to be a little bit respectful of Washington, because if he’s not, he doesn’t have a chance of succeeding. And I want to make him succeed. I want to make the city succeed. I don’t want to make him succeed. I want to make the city succeed,” Trump said.
“I hope it works out for New York. We’ll help him a little bit, maybe,” he added.
On election night, Mamdani had referred to Trump directly in his speech, asking the President to “turn the volume up” on his television to hear the crowd’s enthusiasm.
And on Wednesday, Mamdani said whenever he speaks about Trump, he would not mince his words. But he also added that he would always leave the “door open” to have conversations with the Trump administration.
Mamdani will be sworn in on January 1, 2026.
Agencies