New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, used his victory speech to launch a direct challenge against former President Donald Trump, pledging to dismantle the conditions that foster divisive politics and protect the city’s diverse communities.
Mamdani, a Democrat, Muslim, and the youngest mayor in the city’s history, promised a firm plan to counter the “division and nepotism” he linked to Trump’s rise.
He directly addressed Trump from Brooklyn, stating, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: ‘turn the volume up’.”
Mamdani emphasized that New York would “rise up” against Trump, arguing that terrorizing a “despot” involves dismantling the structures that enable their power. He added this strategy would stop not only Trump but also “the next one.”
The new mayor positioned himself as “a light” in what he called a “political moment of darkness.”
He specifically vowed to defend vulnerable groups, including immigrants, members of the transgender community, Black women dismissed from federal roles by Trump, and single mothers seeking food price reductions.
Mamdani declared that New York would no longer be a city where Islamophobia could be propagated to win an election.
He highlighted New York’s enduring identity as a city “built by immigrants, driven by immigrants, and, from tonight, will be led by an immigrant.”
Mamdani issued a stark warning to Trump, asserting, “to get to any of us, you will have to go through all of us!”
Trump, who had previously threatened to cut federal funds to New York if a Democrat won the mayoral race, responded on Truth Social with a brief post: “And so it begins…”