President Donald J. Trump responded sharply to newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victory speech, calling the self-proclaimed democratic socialist’s platform nothing more than “communism repackaged” and warning that it will lead the city down a dangerous and familiar path of failure.

“For a thousand years, Communism has not worked... I tend to doubt it’s going to work this time,” Trump said during a Fox News interview with Bret Baier. When asked if he had seen Mamdani’s acceptance speech, Trump replied, “Yeah, I thought it was a very angry speech... he’s off to a bad start.”

Trump’s comments came after Mamdani, a far-left figure with deep ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, vowed to “reimagine” New York through expanded social programs, wealth redistribution, and aggressive housing mandates — policies critics say would crush the city’s economy and drive taxpayers away. Trump, who was born and raised in New York, warned that such an agenda would only accelerate the city’s decline, likening it to the failures of socialist regimes across history.

“Everywhere socialism or communism has been tried, it ends in poverty, chaos, and loss of freedom,” Trump said. “New York deserves better than this kind of dangerous ideology.”  

The President’s remarks underscore his long-standing criticism of radical left policies and their destructive impact on urban centers once known for innovation and prosperity. Under Trump’s leadership, cities across America benefited from record-low unemployment, historic tax reform, and a booming small business sector — achievements that stand in sharp contrast to Mamdani’s promises of government expansion and redistribution.

Mamdani’s victory marks the first time a self-declared socialist has been elected mayor of New York in modern history, signaling a hard-left shift within the Democratic Party. Conservatives warn that the election represents a troubling embrace of ideology over practicality — one that could jeopardize the city’s financial stability and public safety.

Trump’s response reflects both his personal connection to New York and his continued defense of capitalism as the cornerstone of American greatness. “New York used to be the city of dreams,” Trump added. “Now it risks becoming the city of decline if leaders like Mamdani keep chasing failed ideas.”

As New Yorkers brace for what could be a turbulent administration, Trump’s warning serves as both a critique and a prediction — that socialism, no matter how it’s branded, has never worked, and never will.