Zohran Mamdani’s historic election in the New York City mayoral race Tuesday sent President Donald Trump and his allies into immediate hysterics, with figures on the MAGA right like House Speaker Mike Johnson lamenting the “dangerous” democratic socialist—and seeking to cast him as the figurehead of a Democratic Party that has so far only tentatively embraced him. “Democrats in New York City have chosen a true extremist and Marxist,” the House speaker posted, “and the consequences will be felt across our entire nation.”
Other MAGA figures joined the pile-on: “We have a major Islam problem in America,” the racist conspiracy theorist and Trump adviser Lara Loomer posted on X. (Loomer appeared particularly incensed that Mamdani quoted the labor activist and socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs in his victory speech: “Mamdani is an enemy combatant,” she wrote.) “Congratulations NYC,” wrote Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs. “You just elected an official who despises America and everything our Republic stands for.”
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, a Trump supporter who spent big against Mamdani, was notably cordial after the results were called: “Congrats on the win,” he posted, telling Mamdani he had a “big responsibility” and offering to help the mayor-elect. But most in MAGA world sounded a bleaker note. “RIP NYC,” Utah Senator Mike Lee added, along with a crying emoji. “Join me for a moment of silence for NYC,” wrote Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Thoughts & prayers.”
The right-wing freakout has been going since June, when Mamdani’s upset win in the Democratic primary put him on track to become the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city—and one whose unabashedly progressive politics seemed to make even some in his own party’s establishment nervous. “Review every naturalization of the past 30 years—starting with Mamdani,” Florida Republican Randy Fine told the New York Post last month. “If there is any fraud or any violation of the rules we need to denaturalize and deport.” (After Mamdani’s victory, Fine posted that “New York City has fallen,” and “America is next if we don’t stop it.”) In addition to baseless suggestions of terrorist ties and calls to deport him, Republicans like Andy Ogles have fantasized about ways they can keep Mamdani from assuming office.
“This man came to America for one reason,” Ogles, the Tennessee representative, wrote the week before the New York election. “To turn America into an Islamic theocracy.”
