Zohran Mamdani says Trump's threats cannot intimidate him

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani vowed to continue his campaign for New York City mayor, openly defying former US President Donald Trump’s threat of arrest. His statement came after the White House press secretary hinted at the possibility of his deportation.

Earlier, the Trump administration had threatened to revoke Mamdani’s citizenship as part of its ongoing crackdown on foreign nationals allegedly involved in criminal activity.

Right-wing Republican Representative Andy Ogles also accused Mamdani of secretly supporting terrorism during his time in the United States.

The controversy escalated when Trump was recently asked about Mamdani’s criticism of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), particularly his pledge to "stop the masked guards." In response, Trump reportedly told Axios, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”

Read: Zohran Mamdani faces Islamophobic attacks for eating rice with hands

Mamdani responded by posting a statement on Instagram, “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp, and deported—not because I’ve broken any law, but because I refuse to let ICE terrorise our city.”

He continued, “His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: If you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation.”

Since winning the Democratic primary on Thursday, Mamdani has faced a wave of racist and Islamophobic attacks from far-right groups and AMGA (America MAGA) supporters. Trump himself recently made derogatory remarks about Mamdani’s heritage and appearance in a social media post.

A self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani has risen rapidly in recent months due to his bold policy promises and progressive stance on international issues.

Check: Trump threatens to cut federal funding if Zohran Mamdani becomes NYC mayor

Mamdani’s platform includes making city buses and childcare services free, building 200,000 affordable housing units, and opening city-owned grocery stores. To fund these programs, he has proposed raising corporate taxes and introducing a 2% direct tax on high-income earners.

He has also gained attention for his outspoken criticism of Israeli policies and his vocal support for Palestinians. In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Mamdani stated that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York City due to his war crimes in Gaza.