"I'm getting used to the fact that the former president will talk about my appearance, my voice, where I come from, who I am," Mamdani said on 29/6. "He wants to distract from what I'm fighting for. I'm fighting for the same working people he made promises to in order to get elected, and then betrayed."
Mamdani secured victory in the Democratic primary against former Governor Andrew Cuomo and other contenders. He has since faced criticism from Republicans who label his policies as radical.
Trump also attacked Mamdani and threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if conflicts arise. "I can't even imagine it, but let me make it very clear, if he gets elected, I'm still president and he will have to behave, or he won't be getting any money. He has to act properly," Trump stated.
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Candidate Zohran Mamdani in New York on 28/6. Photo: AP |
Candidate Zohran Mamdani in New York on 28/6. Photo: AP
Mamdani has pledged to uphold New York's "sanctuary city" status (limiting cooperation with federal authorities on detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants) if elected in November, even as the White House continues its aggressive immigration campaign in major cities.
Given New York's Democratic leanings, Mamdani is likely to win against Republican and independent candidates in November.
In February, the Trump administration sued New York over its immigrant protection policies, claiming they obstruct federal deportation efforts. Then-Mayor Eric Adams met several times with Tom Homan, the White House border enforcement chief. After the Justice Department dismissed a bribery case against Adams, the mayor allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents back into New York's Rikers Island jail complex.
"New York's policy was once defended by both Democrats and Republicans, until the current mayor sowed fear," Mamdani asserted. "It’s a policy that ensured New Yorkers could come out of the shadows and into the light of the city they belong to. It’s a policy I’m proud to defend."
The Trump administration's intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants nationwide sparked large protests in numerous cities. However, US officials recently adjusted their approach, halting raids on immigrants working in restaurants, hotels, and farms due to economic and social concerns.
Ngoc Anh (According to Politico, AP)
