Former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have unleashed sharp criticism following the shocking Democratic primary win of Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who defeated Andrew Cuomo in a historic upset for New York City mayor. Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman backed by the Working Families Party, clinched 56% of the vote in the final round of ranked-choice voting—marking the city’s most progressive primary victory in decades.

Trump called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic,” while Vance warned that Mamdani’s “radical housing plans and anti-Israel views” should alarm every New Yorker. The GOP has signaled plans to heavily scrutinize Mamdani’s policies—including his proposal for free public transit, rent freezes, and a complete overhaul of NYPD oversight.

Mamdani dismissed the attacks, stating, “This isn’t about labels—it’s about working-class survival.” But the backlash has amplified, especially with Cuomo hinting at a third-party run under his “Fight and Deliver” platform, possibly splitting votes in the general election against Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent incumbent Eric Adams.

With Trump and Vance entering the spotlight, the NYC mayoral race is no longer local—it’s a national flashpoint.