Trump calls – After three Mamdani-backed candidates—two linked to the Democratic Socialists of America—won major New York congressional primaries, President Donald Trump called Mayor Zohran Mamdani a “communist” and warned socialism won’t work. Trump also praised Mamdani as
President Donald Trump looked straight past the usual political script Tuesday night—then posted again early Wednesday morning—after New York’s congressional primaries delivered a sweep for candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Trump wasted no time putting labels on what had happened in the state. Around 2:30 a.m. he wrote on Truth Social. “America the Beautiful will NEVER be a Communist Country!!!” The message came after Mamdani-backed candidates scored major wins in congressional primaries for New York. a night that elevated the mayor’s political influence and put the Democratic Socialists of America near the center of the story.
By the next morning, Trump went further, posting directly about Mamdani and the candidates. He wrote that “Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists. ” saying the mayor received “loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media. ” before adding. “Congratulations Mr. Mayor!. I went 16-0 last night, helping to elect wonderful American Patriots, and the Media doesn’t say a word.”.
In Wednesday’s Oval Office press conference. Trump returned to the confrontation in sharper terms. saying the candidates were “going radical left.” He described Mamdani’s slate as an ideological threat. insisting. “I watched that woman last night. That’s not a socialist. I know socialists. That woman is a communist.” It wasn’t immediately clear which candidate he was referencing.
Trump’s argument wasn’t just about names. He said if a “democratic socialist” were ever a presidential nominee. it could benefit Republicans. framing the issue as a failure with a long track record. “If you look throughout history. go back thousands of years. you’ve always had socialism and communism by different names. ” Trump said. “It’s never ever worked.”.
But the interview held a twist that underscores the strange mix of attack and rapport that has characterized parts of this relationship. During the same press conference, Trump called Mamdani a “very nice guy.” “He’s a charming guy, good looking guy, we talk,” the president said.
The primary results Trump was reacting to were clear. Three Mamdani-backed candidates won big in Tuesday night’s congressional primaries for the state: Darializa Avila Chevalier. Claire Valdez. and Brad Lander. Two of them are Democratic Socialists of America members. Each defeated establishment Democrats.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Before the primaries, the friction between Trump and Mamdani already had a clear economic edge. Earlier this month. Trump argued Mamdani was pushing companies out of the city and warned that the outcome would be grim. “I don’t understand why he thinks it’s OK for all these companies that pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes a year to leave. ” Trump said to reporters. He added. “Because you’re not going to have any tax base. and you’re going to end up in hunger and squalor and death and destruction.”.
Trump’s criticism also connected to a specific tax fight. He publicly disagreed with Mamdani’s new pied-à-terre tax proposal, which targets wealthier residents.
Even with those ideological and policy clashes, the two have sometimes appeared able to find common ground in person. After their first face-to-face talk. Mamdani said it was “a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love. which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers.” In that account. Mamdani said Trump wanted “no crime. ” wanted “housing being built. ” and wanted “rents coming down. ” adding. “all things that I agree with.”.
The sequence after the primaries has reinforced a different thread: after electoral wins for Mamdani-backed candidates, Trump doubled down on labeling them as communist and warning socialism will not work—while still praising Mamdani’s personal style as “very nice.”
For New York Democrats and for the voters watching the battle over what comes next, the message from Washington landed with unusual sharpness: ideology will be fought in public, even as personal warmth remains present in the background.
Donald Trump Zohran Mamdani NYC primaries Truth Social Democratic Socialists of America DSA congressional primaries Darializa Avila Chevalier Claire Valdez Brad Lander socialism communism New York politics pied-a-terre tax