Former US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Indian-American politician Zohran Mamdani after his recent win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, branding him a “100% communist lunatic” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“This is a historic moment,” Trump wrote on Wednesday. “The Democrats have finally crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary and is heading toward becoming Mayor.” He continued, “We’ve seen radical leftists before, but this is beyond ridiculous. He looks terrible, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, and he has the backing of AOC plus three other ‘dummies.’ Even our great senator Chuck Schumer is groveling over him.”
Trump’s remarks mark his first public reaction since Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state legislator, appeared to defeat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
Notably, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — both prominent Democratic leaders — extended their congratulations to Mamdani on Wednesday morning. While they expressed a willingness to meet with him, neither leader issued a formal endorsement. Schumer, who is Jewish, was mistakenly referenced by Trump as “our Great Palestinian Senator,” an inaccurate characterization.
Republican figures have frequently portrayed Mamdani as emblematic of the Democratic Party’s leftward shift. Some conservative commentators have even launched unfounded attacks linking Mamdani’s Muslim faith to the events of 9/11, sparking controversy.
In a follow-up post, Trump mockingly suggested the Democrats nominate Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas for president, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York as her running mate, continuing his pattern of deriding progressive Democrats.
Zohran Mamdani’s rise signals a notable shift in New York City politics, as younger progressive voices challenge the established Democratic order. His victory underscores growing divisions within the party and sets the stage for a contentious mayoral race ahead.