Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, spoke directly to President Donald Trump Wednesday during an at-times contentious interview on Fox News, offering to collaborate with the president on issues of affordability and public safety.
“I just want to speak directly to the president,” Mamdani said, turning toward the camera. “I will not be a mayor like Mayor Adams, who will call you to figure out how to stay out of jail. I won’t be a disgraced governor like Andrew Cuomo, who will call you to ask how to win this election. I will, however, be a mayor who is ready to speak at any time to lower the cost of living. That’s the way that I’m going to lead the city,” he added.
The interview with Martha MacCallum marked Mamdani’s first-ever appearance on Fox News, though he has been the subject of prodigious coverage by the network since the start of his campaign.
MacCallum began by asking Mamdani a series of questions about the war between Israel and Hamas — namely, if he would credit Trump for the ceasefire between the two sides and the return of the final 20 living hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.
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“I am thankful, and I have hope that it will actually endure, and that it will be lasting,” he responded, adding that he is concerned about reports of Israeli forces killing Palestinians over the last few days.
“If it proves to be something that is lasting, something that is durable. And I think that is where you give credit,” Mamdani said
Not only did the assemblyman from Queens directly address Trump, but he also delivered a message to Trump voters.
“I’ve spoken to Trump voters right here in New York City, Hillside Avenue in Queens, Fordham Road in the Bronx,” Mamdani said. “They’ve told me it was cost of living that drove them to vote for Donald Trump.”
When asked about Fortune 500 companies leaving the city if he were to become mayor, he explained that the focus of politics has often been placed on billionaires and the most profitable corporations, when it should be about “people who can’t even afford to make ends meet in the city.”
MacCallum agreed, responding, “I think that you’ve done a lot actually to bring people’s attention to that issue.”
Mamdani, who currently leads the polls to become New York City’s mayor, discussed his vision for the city, focusing on affordability and public safety, and described his efforts to align with Governor Kathy Hochul to deliver on universal childcare.
He also turned toward the camera for a second time to criticize his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani in the primary election earlier this year but opted to remain in the race as an independent.
“Andrew, you had your chance to lead this state,” Mamdani said. “You took that time to sell out working class New Yorkers to your billionaire donors, and instead of actually meeting the needs of people who couldn’t afford to live in the city, you gave $959 million in tax breaks to Elon Musk, and now you want us to believe that we can’t spend less money than that to make every bus fast and free in the same city.”
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This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and The City.
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