Zohran Mamdani
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I New York City’s Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani says he will stand up for New York against President Trump, following his successful campaign on a platform of affordability and lowering the city’s cost of living.
Speaking during his first press conference since winning the mayoral race, Mamdani, 34, described his progression as the start of a “new era.”
He become New York City’s first Muslim mayor and youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the US.
Among his promises are rent freezes, free buses and universal childcare.
“In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light,” Mamdani says in a victory speech where he addressed Trump directly.
He however extended an olive stick to the Republican President, saying he is looking forward to meeting him, and discuss topical social issues, for the good of New York city.
Political pundits have however pointed out that although Mamdani sealed a remarkable victory, the real challenges lie ahead and his successes – and failures – will be closely scrutinised.
Trump attacks
President Trump has been all over the news, describing Mamdani’s victory as the worst thing that has happened to America in the recent past.
“Republicans “lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York”, a reference to Democrat Mamdani’s win.
While addressing participants at the Business Forum in Ma”But we’ll take care of it,” he adds., he quipped.
Trump says that after last night’s election results, the difference between the two parties could not be more clear, saying it’s a choice between “communism and common sense”.
“Our opponents are offering an economic nightmare and we are offering an economic miracle,” he said. “They put America last, we put America first.”
Trump is now saying they put in a “communist” in New York, a verbal attack he has frequently levelled at Mamdani. “We skipped socialist and we put in a communist instead.”
Mamdani rejects that label and self-identifies with democratic socialism, a political ideology that is different from communism.
Trump says New Yorkers will flee “communism” because of Mamdani’s victory. “I hope it works out for New York,” he says. Trump is now saying they put in a “communist” in New York, a verbal attack he has frequently levelled at Mamdani. “We skipped socialist and we put in a communist instead.”
Mamdani rejects that label and self-identifies with democratic socialism, a political ideology that is different from communism.
Trump says New Yorkers will flee “communism” because of Mamdani’s victory. “I hope it works out for New York,” he says.
Who is Mamdani?
The 34-year-old Queens assemblyman and the popular Democratic nominee, has built his campaign around a central issue: affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
Born in Uganda and raised in New York City, Mamdani is a self-described democratic socialist who, if elected, would become the city’s first Muslim mayor.
A relatively unknown figure in New York politics until just a few months ago, Mamdani led a progressive, multiracial grassroots campaign that has energized young voters, working-class families and communities of color across the five boroughs.
He has largely positioned him as a symbol of generational change and a leading figure in the revival of the Democratic party’s left wing.
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