Zohran Mamdani says he's a socialist; Trump calls him a ‘communist lunatic' – What's the difference?

Time of India

09-07-2025

Zohran Kwame Mamdani seems to be sticking to the news – for all the relevant reasons. However, at this point, the 33-year-old member of the New York State Assembly and the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor is under the microscope – because the US President doesn't seem to get over his win in the Primary Election and move on from his milestone victory.
And this 'obsession' has ignited an intense debate.
Mamdani proudly identifies as a democratic socialist. He supports and advocates for policies like rent freezes, fare-free buses, publicly owned grocery stores, universal childcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy – key pointers of the idea of social democracy.
But Donald Trump doesn't seem to agree with Mamdani's self-proclamation – at all.
Rather, the US President has repeatedly slammed Mamdani as a '100% Communist Lunatic,' calling him a 'pure communist' and threatening to withhold federal funding or even deploy the federal government if Mamdani is elected.
This stark contrast raises a critical question: What's the real difference between socialism and communism, and what's at stake in this high-stakes rhetorical battle over New York's next mayor?
Moreover, these clashing narratives – between democratic socialism and alleged communism – raise some more vital questions: What exactly distinguishes the two ideologies? And why is Trump labeling Mamdani a communist when his policies are arguably far more moderate?
Let's unpack.
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Understanding Democratic Socialism
Democratic socialism is a political philosophy that combines democratic governance with a commitment to social ownership or regulation of key sectors. In Mamdani's case, his focus is on expanding public services and reducing inequality, not dismantling the private economy.
Key components include:
Democratic governance:
Preserving elections, multi-party systems, and political freedoms.
Targeted public ownership or subsidization:
Rent regulation, municipal grocery stores, public transit, childcare.
Mixed economy:
Encouraging private enterprise alongside robust public investment.
Progressive taxation:
Increasing revenue from corporations and millionaires to fund social programs.
Mamdani sees democratic socialism as a path toward 'redistributed wealth and power…where necessities of life are rights.' His alignment with figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez places him squarely in the tradition of modern US democratic socialism, which emphasizes incremental reforms through democratic institutions.
What is Communism, and why Mamdani isn't it
Communism, as historically practiced in the Soviet Union, Maoist China, and other one-party states, involves:
Abolition of private property and transfer of all means of production to the state.
Centralized, planned economy with no role for markets.
Authoritarian, single-party rule, often repressing dissent.
Mamdani is conspicuously not advocating any of these.
To put it in a list,
he does not support
:
Seizing private businesses or banning markets.
Imposing a single-party regime or abolishing elections.
Forcing price controls beyond regulated rents or pilot grocery stores.
Anna Grzymala-Busse, Stanford University professor of international studies, wrote in an email to PolitiFact, as reported by Al Jazeera: 'Communism involves a centrally planned economy, with no market forces.
Prices and quantities are set by a central government authority. There is no democratic political competition, and instead a single party rules the country,' clarifying that, Mamdani, 'is not calling for any of this.
'
Democratic socialists explicitly reject authoritarianism and nationalization of the entire industry – components at the heart of classic communism.
What's Mamdani's actual agenda in NYC
Mamdani's policy platform prioritizes affordability and equity:
Rent freezes and expanded rent stability, combating displacement.
Fare-free public transit, echoing successful models like Kansas municipal buses.
City-owned grocery pilots, to ensure fair access, intended to supplement, not replace, private grocery chains.
Universal childcare, with state-funded support and family "baby baskets."
Higher taxes on millionaires and corporations to support public programs.
Progressive police reform, focusing on community policing and social services.
These policy goals fall squarely within the tradition of European social democracy, and none of these proposals involves overturning fundamental capitalist structures or erasing private property – hallmarks of communism.
Trump's Rhetoric: Scare tactics vs. substance
Trump's attacks on Mamdani have been both forceful and persistent. He has labeled Mamdani a 'communist,' 'pure communist,' 'communist nutjob,' and '100% communist lunatic' across various platforms. Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds or stage federal takeovers if Mamdani pursues progressive policies. He has even suggested that Mamdani could face arrest, deportation, or have his citizenship stripped, despite being a naturalized citizen since 2018.
These attacks reflect classic 'red-baiting,' which leverages fear of 'communism' to undermine dissenting views and portray them as extreme or authoritarian. In this way, Trump's approach is both inaccurate and misleading, yet strategic: it stirs fear, diverts attention from substantive policy discussions, and rallies conservative voters.
The broader implications
This conflict is about more than just labels; it reveals deeper dynamics in politics:
Public confusion:
Citizens may misinterpret real policy intentions, fearing authoritarian control instead of seeing efforts for increased services.
Fear of socialism:
Conservatives often equate democratic socialism with historical communism to incite alarm. This fear-mongering can enable political opponents to block policy reforms by branding them as 'communist.'
Political signaling and polarization:
Trump's rhetoric resonates with voters who are uneasy about so-called 'radical left' ideas. Labeling Mamdani as a communist may deepen societal divisions and distract from pressing issues such as housing and transit affordability.
Democratic legitimacy:
Attacking Mamdani's citizenship and threatening federal funds raises concerns among Democrats about undermining local self-governance.
For NYC voters, Mamdani's campaign emphasizes trust in public provision for basic needs, while Trump's response exacerbates polarization and raises constitutional concerns regarding federal overreach.
Clarity over confusion
Understanding the substantive differences between these ideologies is crucial because:
Voters deserve accurate information to evaluate policies based on their merits rather than on mischaracterizations.
Democratic socialism seeks to reform rather than replace capitalism, advocating for public programs alongside private enterprise.
Communism aims to completely overthrow capitalism, representing a radical and historically authoritarian transformation.
Political discourse benefits from precise terminology, which ensures accountability and fosters constructive debate. Labeling Mamdani as a communist dilutes the meaning of both ideologies and fuels reactionary political strategies, for accurate ideological framing helps preserve a healthy democratic process.
To sum it up…
At its heart, this debate is illustrative of a larger battle over public understanding, democratic resilience, and ideological framing in American politics.
Zohran Mamdani
's identification as a democratic socialist – championing expanded public services, affordability, and progressive taxation – differs sharply from communism, which entails total state control, abolishment of markets, and one-party rule. Trump's description of Mamdani as a 'communist lunatic' reflects a longstanding strategy of political hyperbole and fearmongering, not an accurate ideological assessment.
Understanding these distinctions allows voters to engage critically with both policy substance and political rhetoric, while ensuring that democracy remains informed, not inflamed.
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