President Expresses Concern Over Progressive Surge in New York City
President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed private concern that progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani is on track to become the next mayor of New York City, describing the socialist-leaning lawmaker as “virtually unbeatable” in November’s election.
According to The Wall Street Journal, senior White House officials say Trump and his advisers believe the 34-year-old Queens assemblyman has a commanding polling lead over both independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa.
The president has told close aides he views Mamdani’s rise as a symptom of what he calls “the radical left’s takeover of America’s largest city.”
Trump’s Inner Circle: “He Thinks It’s Already Over”
As reported by The Independent, Trump’s advisers have acknowledged that the president now considers Mamdani’s momentum almost impossible to stop.
“The president is watching the numbers closely,” one senior official said. “He’s not optimistic. He thinks Mamdani has consolidated the progressive base and that Cuomo’s independent run is splitting the moderate vote.”
Despite Mamdani’s ideological distance from Trump, the president has reportedly told allies that he sees little path for Republicans to break through in a city that has trended further left since the pandemic.
“He’s said more than once that Mamdani is probably going to win,” the official said. “It frustrates him, but he’s also realistic.”
Trump: “I’d Rather Have a Democrat Than a Communist”
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump was unusually candid when asked whether he preferred Cuomo or Mamdani to lead New York City.
“It’s really a question of would I rather have a Democrat or a communist?” Trump said. “And I would rather have a Democrat than a communist.”
When pressed on whether Sliwa should withdraw to give Cuomo a better chance, Trump was skeptical that such a move would make any difference.
“If Sliwa dropped out, maybe Cuomo would have a little bit of a chance,” Trump said. “But not much.”
Sliwa Refuses to Back Down
Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, has rejected calls from within his own party to suspend his campaign.
Trump’s son Eric Trump, along with businessman Bill Ackman and billionaire John Catsimatidis, have privately urged Sliwa to step aside to avoid splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.
Sliwa, however, insists he will not bow to pressure — and issued a warning to anyone attempting to bribe him into quitting.
“I’m not budging,” Sliwa told reporters. “Anyone who presents me with a bribe to suspend my campaign will be reported to New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg.”
Mamdani’s Progressive Platform Worries Trumpworld
Trump, a lifelong New Yorker whose corporate headquarters remain in Manhattan, has privately acknowledged that a Mamdani administration could directly threaten his business interests.
Mamdani has vowed to raise taxes on the wealthy, targeting luxury real estate owners and corporations to fund what he calls his “affordability agenda.”
That plan includes housing subsidies, expanded rent control, and public transit funding — financed primarily by “richer and whiter neighborhoods.”
According to a campaign policy document titled “Stop the Squeeze on NYC Homeowners”, Mamdani argues that New York’s current property tax system “disproportionately benefits wealthy White homeowners” in areas like Manhattan’s Upper East Side and Brooklyn Heights while overburdening Black, Latino, and immigrant homeowners in Queens and the Bronx.
Trump has warned allies that such proposals would “destroy the city’s real estate market” and discourage investment.
Trump’s Federal Leverage and Threats of Retaliation
In July, Trump lashed out at Mamdani in a viral X (formerly Twitter) post, calling him a “Communist Lunatic” and hinting that he may use federal powers to counter a Mamdani-led New York.
“As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Trump wrote. “Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. I’ll save New York City, and make it ‘Hot’ and ‘Great’ again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!”
The president also warned he would examine Mamdani’s legal status if he interfered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
“I’ll have him arrested if he obstructs ICE,” Trump reportedly told advisers, according to one source familiar with internal discussions.
Trump Cancels Billions in Planned NYC Funding
Last month, Trump followed through on part of his threat — announcing the cancellation of $18 billion in federal infrastructure funding earmarked for New York City, blaming the ongoing government shutdown and “wasteful management.”
The move effectively froze long-term transit and housing projects, including several linked to Mamdani’s political allies in the city council.
Administration insiders said the decision was motivated in part by a belief that “New York is choosing socialism over solvency.”
The Three-Way Battle: Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa
The final televised mayoral debate, held Wednesday night, underscored the deep divisions among the three candidates.
Mamdani repeatedly targeted Cuomo, calling him “a desperate man clinging to relevance.”
“Andrew Cuomo knows the one thing he’s always cared about — power — is slipping away from him,” Mamdani said during the debate.
Cuomo fired back, branding Mamdani “too divisive” for a city already facing economic strain.
“Zohran is a great actor,” Cuomo said. “He missed his calling. This man never even proposed a single bill on housing or education in Albany.”
Sliwa, meanwhile, attempted to position himself as the “law-and-order alternative,” but his polling numbers remain mired in the single digits.
Republican Alarm Over Mamdani’s Rise
Mamdani’s June primary victory sent shockwaves through both parties. Once a relatively unknown state assemblyman, he defeated multiple establishment Democrats and captured the party’s nomination with overwhelming support from younger and minority voters.
Republicans see his rise as part of a broader ideological shift — one that could push New York City even further toward democratic socialism.
“This isn’t just about one race,” said a GOP strategist close to Trump’s campaign. “Mamdani’s win symbolizes the far-left’s growing dominance in big cities. If he wins, it sends a message that socialism is becoming mainstream.”
Trump allies have compared Mamdani’s surge to past progressive upsets, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 victory over a long-serving Democratic incumbent.
Trump’s Political Calculation
For Trump, the New York race holds both symbolic and personal significance. The president has long described New York as his home city — even as he relocated his residence to Florida in 2019 citing “abuse by state leaders.”
He has often pointed to New York’s struggles with crime, homelessness, and taxes as evidence of what he calls “Democratic mismanagement.”
Privately, Trump sees the Mamdani-Cuomo-Sliwa contest as a reflection of the national ideological divide — a battle between traditional Democrats, populist independents, and socialist progressives.
“He sees it as a warning,” one aide said. “If cities keep electing people like Mamdani, it proves his argument that the Democratic Party has moved beyond repair.”
Potential Impact on Trump’s 2028 Messaging
Although Trump has not formally announced a 2028 campaign, insiders suggest he could use Mamdani’s anticipated victory as a rallying point for national messaging — painting Democrats as the party of “extremism and class warfare.”
“He’ll use Mamdani as Exhibit A,” said one campaign official. “He’ll say, ‘Look at what the left did to New York — now imagine if they ran America again.’”
Cuomo’s Uphill Battle
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, has struggled to gain traction. Once one of the most powerful figures in New York politics, Cuomo remains politically damaged by the sexual harassment allegations that led to his 2021 resignation.
Cuomo has attempted to portray himself as a centrist alternative who can restore competence to City Hall — but polls suggest voters see him as part of the old guard.
“He’s trying to make a comeback, but New Yorkers haven’t forgotten,” a Democratic strategist told The Journal. “He’s not trusted by the left or the right.”
Looking Ahead: A City at a Crossroads
With just weeks until Election Day, Trump’s team is preparing for what one adviser called “a post-Mamdani New York.”
The White House is reportedly exploring legal and financial tools to limit federal exposure to any new city policies that might “penalize” private enterprise.
For now, Trump remains publicly defiant — but privately resigned to what he views as an inevitable outcome.
“He loves New York,” one longtime associate said. “But he knows it’s not the city he built in the ’80s. If Mamdani wins, he’ll say it proves his point — that Democrats have gone so far left they’re unrecognizable.”
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
