Donald Trump threatens to arrest Zohran Mamdani and accuses him of being ‘here illegally’
Donald Trump has sparked outrage after falsely claiming New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is in the U.S. illegally. Mamdani, 33, moved from Uganda to New York as a child and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim mayor.
During a press conference on 2 July, Trump suggested Mamdani might be undocumented, stating, “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally.” He also threatened to deport or arrest Mamdani if he opposed ICE immigration enforcement as mayor.
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, fired back on social media, calling Trump’s remarks an attack on democracy. “The president just threatened to have me arrested,” he wrote, vowing not to be intimidated.
Public backlash was swift, with critics condemning Trump’s comments as racist and baseless. “Zohran is a U.S. citizen. Trump embarrasses the office daily,” one user tweeted. Others noted the pattern of Trump targeting minority politicians.
This isn’t the first time Trump has questioned a political opponent’s identity. During the 2024 campaign, he bizarrely claimed Kamala Harris only recently “turned Black.” In 2016, he also promoted the false “birther” conspiracy about Barack Obama.
Mamdani’s campaign has gained traction in New York, where he advocates for progressive policies like blocking ICE arrests. Trump’s comments appear aimed at undermining his credibility ahead of the election.
The controversy highlights Trump’s continued use of divisive rhetoric, drawing condemnation from opponents who see it as an attempt to suppress minority voices in politics.
