Jul 1, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Trump threatens to arrest Mamdani if he doesn't cooperate with ICE

Sareen Habeshian

President of the United States Donald Trump arrives at Huis ten Bosch Palace for a dinner during the NATO Summit 2025 on June 24, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images) — President Trump on June 24 in the Netherlands. Photo: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

President Trump said Tuesday he would arrest Zohran Mamdani if the New York City Democratic mayoral nominee doesn't allow federal immigration officials to arrest undocumented immigrants in the city.

The big picture: Trump has been hurling insults at Mamdani, doubling down on his assertion that the candidate is a communist, and threatening to withhold federal funding from the Democratic primary winner.

Zoom in: Mamdani vowed in his recent acceptance speech to use his power to "stop masked ICE agents from deporting our neighbors."

Asked during a press briefing Tuesday what his response is to Mamdani's promise, Trump said, "Well then, we'll have to arrest him."

What he' saying: "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 continued.

"We send him money," he added. "We send him all the things that he needs to run a government."
Representatives for Mamdani did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Reality check: While the federal government is constitutionally charged with enforcing immigration laws, states and local government agencies are generally not required to collaborate in immigration enforcement.

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Trump threatens to arrest Mamdani if he doesn't cooperate with ICE

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