Donald Trump warns newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani to “be very nice,” escalating a political feud over federal funding and local power.
A political feud has ignited between former President Donald Trump and newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani, spotlighting the nation’s deep partisan divisions. The clash escalated when Trump issued a direct warning to the mayor, stating he should “be very nice to me” for key federal approvals.
Trump’s Public Warning to a New Mayor
The tension began after Mamdani’s victory speech, which Trump publicly criticized as “very angry.” In a recent interview, the former president amplified his remarks with a stark message tied to federal power.
“He should be very nice to me, because I’m the one that has to approve a lot of the things that he wants,” Trump stated. He concluded that the new mayor had “gotten off to a bad start” with their relationship.
This warning underscores the significant leverage the federal government can hold over local projects, from disaster relief to infrastructure funding.
Mamdani’s Defiant “Turn The Mic Up” Response
The conflict is not one-sided. Mayor Zohran Mamdani directly challenged Trump during his own victory address, setting the stage for this public spat.
His defiant remark, “To get to any of us, you will have to go through all of us. And I have four words for him: Turn. The. Mic. Up,” was widely interpreted as a pledge to resist Trump’s influence. This exchange highlights a deep ideological divide and a promise of firm opposition.
A Claim of Conflict for the Sake of New York
Despite the harsh words, Trump struck a seemingly conciliatory note by expressing a desire for the mayor to succeed. He attributed this to his personal connection with the city.
“I want the new mayor to do well, because I love New York,” Trump said, repeating his affection for the city. “When I left New York and I went to Washington, New York was doing very well.”
This statement attempts to frame the conflict as a reluctant necessity rather than a purely political attack.
This public spat between a former president and a new local mayor sets the stage for potential battles over policy and funding. It serves as a potent symbol of the ongoing challenges to federal-local cooperation in an era of intense political polarization.