Payam Javan: President Donald Trump has warned that federal funding for New York City could be slashed if Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Democratic mayoral primary winner, does not align with federal expectations. In a Fox Business interview aired on June 29, 2025, Trump labeled Mamdani a “pure communist” and stated that the city, which relies on over $100 billion annually from federal programs, would face severe financial repercussions if the next mayor does not “behave.” Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist and New York state legislator, secured a surprising victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the ranked-choice primary, winning 43% of the vote to Cuomo’s 36%. His campaign, focused on progressive policies like rent freezes, free bus service, and universal childcare, has drawn both praise and criticism for its ambitious $5 billion cost to the city budget.

Mamdani’s victory, celebrated by Sen. Bernie Sanders as a shift toward a working-class-focused Democratic agenda, marks him as a potential historic figure as New York City’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected in November.