In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s historic win as New York’s first Indian-origin mayor, former US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy with a veiled warning about federal funding to the city. Taking to Truth Social, Trump posted a brief but ominous message:

“…AND SO IT BEGINS!”

The remark came just hours after Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, who had enjoyed public support from both Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

During the campaign, Trump had repeatedly labelled Mamdani a “Communist”, warning New Yorkers that they would “pay the price” if they voted for him.

Trump’s pre-election threat

Trump’s earlier post on Truth Social explicitly stated his intentions regarding federal funds if Mamdani took office:

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home. I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.”

His comments were widely criticised as an attempt to politically pressure urban voters and undermine federal cooperation with state and municipal governments.

Can Trump actually cut funding for New York City?

While Trump’s words have sparked anxiety among some New Yorkers, legal experts say the President cannot unilaterally block or divert funds already allocated to cities. Federal spending is determined and approved by Congress, not the executive branch.

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 explicitly prohibits the President from withholding or cancelling funds without congressional approval. The law was enacted in the aftermath of Richard Nixon’s presidency to curb the misuse of fiscal authority — a safeguard meant to prevent precisely the kind of unilateral decision Trump hinted at.

Any attempt by the President to suspend funding, known as “impoundment,” would likely be struck down in court, as has occurred in previous administrations.

White House actions before and after elections

According to The Guardian, the Trump administration had already begun reducing federal support for New York City even before the mayoral results were declared. Among these measures:

  • Withholding $18 billion earmarked for a tunnel infrastructure project amid a broader government shutdown.
  • A separate legal case in which a federal judge ordered the administration to restore $34 million in counterterrorism funding that had been arbitrarily withheld.
  • Renewed friction over New York’s congestion pricing plan, which the White House opposed, labelling it “anti-driver” and “bad for business.”

These incidents indicate that Trump’s post-election remarks may continue a pattern of tension between the federal government and New York City under Mamdani’s leadership.

Mamdani’s response to Trump’s warning

At a rally in Astoria, shortly after Trump’s Truth Social post, Mamdani responded directly to the threat, saying he would not be intimidated by political posturing.

“We will address that threat for what it is — it is a threat. It is not the law,” Mamdani told supporters. “Too often, we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it is already legal, just by virtue of who is saying it.”

He further asserted that federal funds belong to the people of New York, not the President:

“This funding is not something that Donald Trump is giving us here in New York City. This is something that we are, in fact, owed.”

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Born in 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Mamdani is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and distinguished Ugandan-Indian scholar Mahmood Mamdani. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Mamdani entered politics as a progressive Democrat, representing Astoria in the New York State Assembly before his mayoral bid.

Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist based in Brooklyn. The couple’s story — they met on the dating app Hinge — has frequently been cited in media coverage as a symbol of modern multicultural New York.

The road ahead

Mamdani’s administration faces challenges on multiple fronts: rebuilding public infrastructure, tackling housing inequality, and fostering cooperation with a hostile federal government. Political analysts believe his leadership could set the tone for a new progressive era in New York politics, even as Trump’s remarks signal potential conflict between City Hall and the White House.

For now, Mamdani’s response suggests defiance rather than fear — an insistence that New York’s autonomy will not be dictated by partisan threats.