Donald Trump threatens to arrest Zohran Mamdani and accuses him of being ‘here illegally’

Donald Trump has sparked outrage after falsely claiming that New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is in the U.S. illegally. Mamdani, 33, moved to New York from Uganda in 1998 and became a naturalized citizen in 2018. He now lives in the city with his Syrian-American wife, Rama Duwaji.

If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. Despite his confirmed citizenship and career in liberal politics, Trump suggested he could be deported, stating, “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything.”

Many believe Trump’s remarks stem from Mamdani’s reported plans to limit ICE immigration enforcement, a direct challenge to the president’s broader anti-immigration agenda. When asked about Mamdani’s stance, Trump shockingly replied, “Well then we’ll have to arrest him.”

Mamdani quickly responded with a strong social media statement, accusing Trump of trying to intimidate outspoken citizens. “This is an attack on our democracy,” he wrote, adding, “If you speak up, they will come for you.”

The comments provoked widespread backlash online, with many pointing out Mamdani’s citizenship. One person wrote, “But he’s an American citizen?!?!” Others condemned Trump’s remarks as racist and dangerous.

Mamdani also criticized Trump for praising current mayor Eric Adams, claiming the president had helped Adams avoid legal accountability, further fueling political tensions.

This incident echoes past controversies, such as Trump questioning Kamala Harris’s racial identity and falsely claiming Barack Obama wasn’t legitimately elected, continuing a pattern of targeting political opponents based on identity.