WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump reacted Tuesday night to a string of Democratic victories across the country — including Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in the New York City mayoral race — by blaming the Republican Party’s setbacks on the government shutdown and his own absence from the ballot.
“TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,” the president said in a statement citing unnamed pollsters.
The president, a native New Yorker, loomed large over the city’s election despite not being directly involved. The race between Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and Independent Andrew Cuomo became a referendum on Trump’s presidency, with both candidates frequently promising to challenge the administration’s policies if elected.
In the days leading up to the vote, Trump urged Republicans to back Cuomo over GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa, warning that a vote for Sliwa would only help Mamdani.
“A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job.”
Trump also reiterated his threat to cut federal funding to New York City following Mamdani’s victory, calling the new mayor a “communist” and predicting economic ruin for the city under his leadership.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump posted. “As a Communist, the once-great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!”
The president’s remarks come as Republicans face mounting frustration following a night of losses in key races nationwide. For Trump, however, the New York City outcome appears deeply personal. Once the face of Manhattan’s gilded skyline, he now finds himself politically rejected by the city that helped make him famous.
Trump’s attacks on Mamdani have centered on the new mayor’s progressive platform — including fare-free buses, rent freezes, universal childcare, and tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy — as well as his outspoken criticism of U.S. foreign policy in Gaza.
Despite Trump’s warnings, Mamdani’s populist message resonated with young voters and working-class New Yorkers, driving record turnout and delivering Democrats one of their most symbolic victories of the 2025 election cycle.
For Trump, the loss of his hometown to a democratic socialist is not just a political blow — it’s a symbolic one, marking a striking contrast between his own brand of nationalism and the city’s shift toward progressive populism.
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