President Donald Trump is making headlines again—this time for going after Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, with some bold threats and inflammatory accusations.
During a press conference caught by ABC News, Trump said he would have Mamdani arrested or even deported after the candidate publicly criticized ICE operations and the newly unveiled migrant detention center in the Everglades, Florida.
Trump, clearly irritated by Mamdani’s comments during his victory speech, responded,
“Well then, we’ll have to arrest him. Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation.”
Trump Spreads False Claims About Mamdani’s Citizenship
Trump didn’t stop there. The former president also spread baseless rumors about Mamdani’s legal status in the U.S., saying:
“A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything.”
“Ideally, he’s going to turn out to be much less than a communist. But right now he’s a communist.”
Fact check: Mamdani has lived in the United States since age 7 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. In typical Trump fashion, he closed his rant by throwing more jabs at Mamdani, calling him a “nut job” and warning:
“I think I’m gonna have a lot of fun with him, watching him, because he has to come right through this building to get his money.”
Zohran Mamdani Fires Back: “We Will Not Accept This Intimidation”
But Zohran Mamdani is not letting Trump have the final word. In a strong and measured statement, the NYC mayoral hopeful clapped back:
“Trump’s statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation.”
Mamdani, who is known for his progressive platform, has frequently spoken out about immigration rights, racial justice, and ICE’s treatment of migrants. His comments on the Everglades detention facility sparked national attention—especially among immigrant advocates and civil rights organizations.