Trump Warns Mamdani: No Federal Cash For A ‘Communist’ Mayor
President Donald J. Trump on Monday issued a sharp warning to New Yorkers about mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling him a “self-proclaimed communist” and vowing to block federal funding if the far-left politician wins City Hall.
“He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him?”
Mamdani, who swept the Democratic primary on a platform of socialist spending and expansive government programs, is now staring down not just political rivals but the White House itself. His agenda relies heavily on federal subsidies and grants, even as Trump makes clear that money won’t be coming.
Mamdani’s promises include:
• $100 million in new legal aid for illegal immigrants facing deportation, which he calls a “cornerstone” of his platform.
• $6 billion annually for universal childcare across the city.
• $700 million each year for free bus service.
• 200,000 affordable housing units, partially funded by federal cash for NYCHA, which already has a $40 billion repair backlog.
• A new Department of Community Safety to strip the NYPD of responsibilities such as traffic enforcement and homeless outreach.
To pay for this, Mamdani has proposed jacking up corporate taxes, raising New York’s rate to match New Jersey’s 9% and even targeting large universities by removing their tax exemptions. But critics point out that even with steep tax hikes, his socialist wish list is far larger than what city revenues could ever cover.
That’s why federal dollars are central to his plan. Mamdani has floated tapping Washington for housing, infrastructure, and transit subsidies, though he has avoided specifying which programs or grants he thinks he could secure.
Beyond spending, Mamdani has made ideological promises that play directly into Trump’s warning. He wants to convert private housing into community land trusts, reroute police resources into social services, and use city funds to create legal shields for illegal immigrants, vowing to “Trump-Proof NYC.”
Trump’s message was clear: without federal cooperation, Mamdani’s agenda collapses. And if voters install a socialist in City Hall, the president says they should not expect Washington to foot the bill.