NEW YORK: Following his victory, Zohran Mamdani delivered a powerful speech emphasizing unity and resilience against threats, while boldly affirming his identity.
.
In his first remarks as the incoming mayor of New York, Mamdani made it clear that his administration will challenge the policies and figures associated with Trump.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he proclaimed in Brooklyn Tuesday night. “And if there’s any way to unsettle a dictator, it is by dismantling the very foundations that allowed him to gain power.”
He concluded with a defiant message to Trump: “Turn the volume up,” eliciting loud cheers from the crowd, clearly aimed at making his stance known.Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim immigrant and democratic socialist, is set to become the youngest mayor in a century to lead America’s largest city. His campaign struck a chord with Democrats eager for fresh leadership, addressing urgent issues like the rising costs of childcare, housing, transportation, and food.
His victory has already drawn intense attention from Republicans, who seek to portray Mamdani as the face of a radical left-wing movement. Following his win over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, GOP Chair Joe Gruters criticized Mamdani’s platform as “extreme,” warning that Democrats will be judged by voters for embracing what he called a “far-left agenda” in upcoming elections.
Mamdani’s speech also signaled a united front against Trump’s efforts to deploy federal agents and military personnel into American cities. He vowed that New York will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its residents and resist any attempts to undermine their rights.“We will hold bad landlords accountable because the Donald Trumps of our city have become far too comfortable exploiting tenants,” Mamdani declared. “We will fight the culture of corruption that allows billionaires like Trump to dodge taxes and benefit from loopholes. We will champion unions and strengthen labor protections because, as Trump knows well, when workers are empowered, the bosses become very small indeed.”
He reaffirmed the city’s identity as a haven for immigrants: “New York is a city built, powered, and led by immigrants. And as of tonight, it is also a city led by an immigrant.”Turning to Trump, Mamdani said, “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Drawing inspiration from early 20th-century socialist Eugene Debs, Mamdani pledged to pursue an ambitious agenda reminiscent of Fiorello LaGuardia’s transformative leadership calling for free public transportation, universal childcare, and rent stabilization measures.“In this period of darkness, New York will be the beacon of hope,” Mamdani concluded, promising to lead with courage and conviction
