Zohran Mamdani Slams Trump’s Republican Party: ‘Only Agenda’ Is ‘Cruelty and Punishment’ Towards Muslims and Minorities

New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (D) slammed President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers nationwide on Saturday, saying their “only agenda” is “cruelty and punishment” towards Muslims like him and other minorities.

The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist blasted the president and Republicans during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime.

Co-host Ayman Mohyeldin asked Mamdani for his reaction to Republicans who have criticized him recently, including Vice President JD Vance, who mocked Mamdani for saying his aunt stopped taking the subway because of anti-Muslim bigotry following the Sept. 11 attacks.

“This is all the Republican party has to offer — cheap jokes about Islamophobia so as to not have to recognize what people are living through,” Mamdani said. “Attempts to pit people’s humanity against each other.”

Other GOP critics include two Republican lawmakers who are pushing for the feds to review Mamdani’s naturalization and possibly “denaturalize and deport” him. Mamdani said this is nothing new for Republicans.

“In a moment where Americans across the country are deeply fearful of whether they can afford the basic dignities of life, be it health care, be it groceries, be it their rent, the focus of the Republican Party is to try and denaturalize the Muslim guy that won the New York City Democratic Primary with the most votes in our city’s history?” Mamdani said a moment later.

He continued: “It just speaks to the fact that for the Republican Party, the only agenda they really have on offer is that of cruelty and punishment.”

The betting favorite to be NYC’s next mayor also said, a moment earlier, that he is concerned about his personal safety, but “I try not to think about it.”

He said the issue of racism and bigotry is not only a problem for Republicans, though.

Mamdani also blasted Democrats, and in particular, his opponent, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), after Cuomo said “God Forbid another 9/11” happen on Mamdani’s watch. “Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo asked on a radio show this week.

“I think Islamophobia is something that is endemic to politics across this country,” Mamdani said. “And we have seen it normalize. We have seen it accepted. And it has come to a point where to speak up about it is seen as if you are making it into an issue, whereas in fact you are naming that which already exists. And so much of this is driven from an unwillingness to recognize that Muslims belong here in the city.”

Mamdani’s critics have also ripped him for posing for pictures with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who said America “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. Mamdani, during a debate with Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa earlier this month, said Piker’s comments were “reprehensible.” 

He added on Saturday that “so-called” leaders like Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams (D) have been able to “traffic so openly in this kind of bigotry” and it “showcases how little they think” of the Muslims they represent.

Watch above, via MSNBC.

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