Zohran Mamdani made history on Nov. 4 as being elected the first South Asian and Muslim mayor in New York City, in addition to being the youngest mayor in over a century. 

Mamdani’s supporters are buzzing with excitement in light of the win, as his campaign instilled optimism in those who have been struggling with affording rent, groceries and transportation costs. 

Young voters are especially eager to support Mamdani’s campaign. Gaoussou Dibassy, a 19-year-old college student who grew up in Harlem, said that affordability was the main issue that he wanted to be addressed.

“Mamdani brings a refreshing sense that he understands us, and that he knows what we’re going through,” he said. 

Mamdani’s capacity to understand and respond to these issues lets people identify with him — something that other candidates failed to do.

“He’s looking to address the problems that will actually impact our lives,” Dibassy said.

There was an unprecedented vehemence in this election: the Board of Elections reported that more than 735,000 people voted early. This is more than four times the number of ballots cast in the same period during the 2021 mayoral contest.

Mamdani won in a landslide, receiving over 1 million votes or 50.4% of the 2 million voter turnout. Despite the enthusiasm, one distinct voice was not too keen on his victory.

On the night before Mamdani’s win, President Donald Trump took to social media to endorse former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani. 

“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Trump also threatened to cut federal funds to New York, saying that he will contribute only “the very minimum” that is required and that Mamdani’s leadership will cause New York to become a “complete and total economic and social disaster.”

Trump doubled down on his claims in an interview with 60 Minutes, “I’m not a fan of Cuomo… but if it’s going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m going to pick the bad Democrat all the time,” he said. 

In both the post and the interview, Trump repeatedly called Mamdani a communist despite the mayor-elect referring to himself as a democratic socialist.

Cuomo was the front-runner for months, but Mamdani’s campaign, highlighting affordability as his primary concern, was enough to shift the tide.

In an interview with Erin Burnett on CNN, Mamdani responded to Trump’s post, saying that Cuomo’s pushback on the Trump administration and his open denial of being associated with them was false and how “it’s written out for the entire world to see.”

“This is the man that Donald Trump wants to be the mayor for New York city—not because he’ll be good for New Yorkers, but because he’ll be good for Donald Trump,” he said. 

Trump’s aggressive endorsement of Cuomo was a desperate attempt to deter people from Mamdani’s campaign, which reinforces the foundation of stagnancy and regression, rather than progress and innovation.

Mamdani’s identity as a South Asian Muslim is likely to invoke distrust on part of the president, who has a longstanding history of perpetuating islamophobia with anti-Muslim campaigning and rhetoric.

During Mamdani’s victory party in Brooklyn, he addressed Trump directly. 

“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” he said. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

Undeterred by adversity, Mamdani’s resolve and the fierce support of his campaign make one thing clear: he has no intention of giving in to the president’s demands.