Nov 5, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Mamdani takes aim at Trump after NYC election win

Rebecca Falconer

A dark-haired, bearded New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, wearing a navy jacket, white shirt and metallic blue tie, smiles as he puts his right hand on his chest while standing before a mic at a podium. — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani celebrates winning the NYC election in Brooklyn on Tuesday night. Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani addressed President Trump in his election victory speech Tuesday, declaring that NYC is "built by immigrants," that it would remain so and now it'll be "led by an immigrant."

Why it matters: Trump has for months criticized Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee, repeatedly calling the democratic socialist a "communist" and endorsing his old foe former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the mayor's race.

What they're saying: "If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," said Mamdani, a democratic socialist who denies being a communist, during his speech in Brooklyn, NYC.

"And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power," he continued. "This is not only how we stop Trump, it's how we stop the next one."
"So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up," Mamdani added.
Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' Tuesday evening request for comment.

Go deeper: Mamdani calls NYC "light" in "political darkness" after historic win

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Mamdani takes aim at Trump after NYC election win

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