Trump’s comments about Mamdani center on skepticism of Mamdani’s policies and how they would interact with Washington. He suggested that Mamdani should “respect” Washington and hinted at the possibility of cooperation if conditions are right, while repeatedly criticizing Mamdani’s left-leaning platform and labeling him in the past as a communist. After Mamdani’s victory, Trump softened slightly, saying he wants New York to do well and expressing a conditional openness to working with the new mayor, but he maintained that Mamdani’s political stance—often described as democratic socialist—puts him at odds with federal priorities. Overall, Trump framed Mamdani as a political adversary while leaving room for dialogue on policy matters that affect federal-city coordination.