1:34The New York City mayoral hopeful, Zohran Mamdani, poses for a selfie with a citizen on September 26, 2025, in New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City’s mayoralty and a state legislator, stated on ABC’s "The View" this Wednesday — just a few days after the current mayor, Eric Adams, withdrew from the contest — that he wasn’t troubled by recent threats from President Donald Trump to deny federal funds to New York if Trump is elected.
On Monday, Trump posted on his social media account, “Bear in mind, he needs the money from me, as President, to execute all his PHONY Communist promises. He will receive none of it, so what’s the benefit of voting for him?”
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has stressed — including on “The View” this Wednesday — that he does not consider himself a communist.
“This is merely one of many threats Donald Trump issues. Each day he arises, he articulates another threat, frequently concerning the very city he originates from,” Mamdani remarked.
New York Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks on “The View,” Oct. 1, 2025.ABC
“And what provokes me is not Donald Trump’s actions, as we've grown accustomed to them, but the notion that we must accept this as the norm, that we have to regard it as standard practice. We have to resist this, because we recognize it’s not just an overreach by a federal administration, it's a demonstration of his past behavior,” he further stated.
When questioned about Trump’s more recent aspiration to utilize U.S. cities for military exercises and how he would prevent it, Mamdani replied, “[Trump] desires to undertake numerous actions concerning this city, and we're prepared to oppose him at every stage, particularly if it compromises the well-being of this city.”
Moreover, regarding why prominent Democratic figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have yet to offer their endorsement, Mamdani minimized the overall significance of endorsements.
He lauded endorsements from individuals such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, but then added, “However, I also wouldn't be seated here with you if endorsements were the decisive factor. It was the citizens of the city who made this happen.”
New York Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on “The View,” Oct. 1, 2025.ABC
Mamdani has encountered criticism regarding some of his statements and positions on the Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel more generally, which includes characterizing Israel’s actions in the conflict as a “genocide” and declining to affirm Israel’s existence as a Jewish state, even though he has conveyed his support for Israel’s right to exist as a state. The Israeli government has refuted allegations that it is perpetrating genocide.
Co-host Sara Haines inquired why voters who deem this a moral boundary should have faith in his clarity and judgment. Mamdani responded that New York City would be his administration’s central priority.
“Furthermore, millions of New Yorkers, myself among them, are deeply concerned about the events unfolding in Israel and Palestine,” he included.
New York Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on “The View,” Oct. 1, 2025.ABC
“Thus, to be unequivocally clear, I, of course, condemn Hamas. I have referred to October 7 [the attack on Israel by Hamas] for what it was, a horrendous war crime. Moreover, my faith in the universality of international law is the foundation for my describing the situation in Gaza as a genocide.”
He soon added, "As mayor, I cannot prevent that. I can articulate my own values, my own convictions, and these values and commitments are directed towards humanity, security, and justice for all people, extending to everyone, Israelis, Palestinians, and all others."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
