President Donald J. Trump has issued a strong warning against New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, stating that if Mamdani interferes with federal immigration enforcement, he could be arrested.
Speaking during a tour of a new immigrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades, President Trump sharply criticized Mamdani’s immigration policies, calling him a “communist” and “a total nut job.”
He added, “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. If he gets in the way of ICE, we’ll have to arrest him.”
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, recently secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo through ranked-choice voting.
He has publicly pledged to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city and declared that, under his administration, New York would not cooperate with federal immigration raids or deportation efforts.
President Trump’s remarks highlight an escalating clash between the federal government and sanctuary city policies. While local governments cannot legally obstruct ICE operations, they are not required to assist either.
The President also hinted at possible financial repercussions for the city, saying, “If he doesn’t behave, we’re cutting the money.”
The comments have drawn criticism from Democrats and civil liberties advocates, who argue that President Trump is using the power of the federal government to intimidate political rivals. Mamdani’s campaign responded by reaffirming its position on immigrant protections and denounced the threat of arrest as politically motivated.
Despite the controversy, the Trump administration has made it clear that it will not tolerate local interference with immigration enforcement.
As the 2025 mayoral race heats up, immigration policy and federal authority have become defining issues—not only for New York, but for the broader national debate under President Trump’s second term.
