“Turn The Volume Up”: Zohran Mamdani Vows War Against Trump In NYC Mayoral Victory Speech
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Mayor-elect of New York City Zohran Mamdani came out swinging against President Donald Trump in his victory speech.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist, became the youngest person to be elected the city’s mayor since 1892 and is its first Muslim mayor, as well as its first to be born in Africa.
He secured a stunning victory over Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo after voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, November 4.
Highlights
- Zohran Mamdani became NYC's youngest mayor since 1892, the first Muslim, and the first born in Africa, winning over 50% of the vote.
- Mamdani challenged Trump directly in his victory speech, promising to fight corruption, landlord abuse, and defend immigrant rights.
- Trump backed Mamdani’s rival Andrew Cuomo and threatened to cut NYC federal funding if Mamdani won, but Mamdani prevailed.
Zohran Mamdani told Donald Trump to ‘turn the volume up’ during his speech
Image credits: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
As per the AP vote tracker, Mamdani secured over 50% of the vote, with 91% of votes counted so far.
The leftist lawmaker had a vote tally of 1,036,051—totaling 50.4% of the vote—while Cuomo had 854,995, or 41.6%, and Sliwa secured 146,137 votes, making up 7.1%.
Mamdani told supporters in his victory speech that they had “toppled a political dynasty” and described a new generation of change being ushered in.
“After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.
“And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power,” Mamdani said.
“This is not only how we stop Trump—it’s how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
He continued, “We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks.
“We will stand alongside unions and expand labor protections because we know, just as Donald Trump does, that when working people have ironclad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“When we enter City Hall in 58 days, expectations will be high. We will meet them. A great New Yorker once said that while you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose.”
Trump had backed Cuomo in the race and threatened to pull federal funding from the city if Mamdani secured victory.
After Mamdani’s win was announced, he posted on Truth Social: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”
Mamdani, who will be sworn into office in January, ran on a platform campaigning to make life livable again by lowering costs.
His proposals included freezing rent increases for rent-stabilized units, creating city-run grocery stores, a free citywide bus service, strict accountability for landlords, and free child care.
Democrats also secured victories in New Jersey and Virginia
Image credits: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
He proposes to do all of that by taxing the wealthy 1%, making him unpopular among the wealthy.
It was a big night for Democrats outside of Mamdani’s victory, with the party also securing key wins in Virginia and New Jersey, and passing legislation in California.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger was elected governor of Virginia, while Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected governor of New Jersey.
And California Governor Gavin Newsom also had cause to celebrate after the state backed Proposition 50—a measure to temporarily override the independent redistricting commission and redraw the state’s congressional lines.
Image credits: Donald J Trump
The legislation effectively gives Democrats advantages in five districts, canceling out the Republican gains in Texas after the GOP approved new Congressional maps earlier this year.
Commenting on the Democrats’ election success, Trump blamed the fact that he himself wasn’t on the ballot for Republican losses.
“‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” he wrote.
