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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Zohran Mamdani 'needs to be deported': Republicans over NYC mayoral candidate's anti-ICE stance
Calls for the deportation of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani are growing louder among Republicans. While Mamdani himself has vowed to expel the 'fascist' US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out from the city properties. President Donald Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan warned against it, saying, 'Good luck with that.' New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (AFP) 'It's game on,' Homan told Fox News, a day after Mamdani declared victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens and a Democratic socialist, had made immigration reform a central part of his campaign. His platform promises to 'kick the fascist ICE out' and strengthen New York's sanctuary city protections by cutting off cooperation with federal agents, boosting legal aid, and safeguarding immigrants' data. 'Zohran Mamdani will fight Trump's attempts to gouge the working class and deliver a city where everyone can afford a dignified life,' reads a statement on his campaign website. Homan responded by saying Mamdani's proposals carry no legal weight. 'Good luck with that, federal law trumps him every day, every hour of every minute,' Homan said. 'We're going to be in New York City, matter of fact, because it's a sanctuary city and President Trump made it clear a week and a half ago — we're going to double down and triple down on sanctuary cities.' According to Homan, ICE operations will increase in New York due to concerns about public safety and national security. He said more agents would be deployed and worksite enforcement would be expanded 'tenfold.' Homan also compared New York to Florida, claiming that cooperation with ICE is smoother in Republican-led states. 'We don't have that problem in Florida, where the sheriffs work with us,' he said. 'So we're going to double up and triple up on New York.' He added, 'Not only are we going to send more agents to the neighborhood, we are going to increase worksite enforcement tenfold.' 'Little Muhammad' needs to be deported In the latest, Tennessee Republican Congressman Andy Ogles ignited a political firestorm this week after referring to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as 'little Muhammad' and calling for his deportation. 'He needs to be DEPORTED,' Ogles wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalisation proceedings.' In the same post, Ogles labeled Mamdani 'an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York.' The congressman escalated his rhetoric with a formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice to investigate whether Mamdani gained U.S. citizenship through fraud. He cited a 2017 rap lyric by Mamdani referencing the 'Holy Land Five' — individuals who led a Muslim charity shut down for illegally funding Hamas in 2008. Curbing ICE, Mamdani's one of many plans for New York While his pledge to remove ICE from city facilities has drawn national attention, it is just one part of a broader agenda. Mamdani's campaign also promises to establish city-run grocery stores, freeze rent hikes in rent-stabilised apartments, and make city buses free for all. He says these proposals would be funded through a $10 billion tax increase on large businesses and wealthy residents. Since 2021, Zohran Mamdani has served as a state assemblyman representing Astoria, Queens. His recent win in the Democratic mayoral primary suggests growing public support for his progressive platform in New York City.
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Sen. Gillibrand rips NYC mayor hopeful Zohran Mamdani's controversial intifada comments, insists he should ‘denounce it'
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has ripped mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani's controversial comments on intifada — insisting the Democratic socialist should emphatically 'denounce it' if he wants to rep the Big Apple. Gillibrand, a pro-Israel Democrat, laid into Mamdani for refusing to condemn the 'globalize the intifada' rallying cry used by others as she demanded a sit-down with him so he can explain himself. 'As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it. And that's it. Period,' Gillibrand said during an appearance on WNYC on Thursday. 4 Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral election primary. REUTERS 4 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sparred with radio hosts on Mamdani's victory. LP Media The senator stressed that it was not enough for the 33-year-old Queens assemblyman to dubiously claim that intifada is not a call for violence but a broader term referring to resistance and uprisings. 'It doesn't matter what meaning you have in your brain, it is not how the word is received. And when you use a word like Intifada, to many Jewish Americans and Jewish New Yorkers, that means you are permissive for violence against Jews,' Gillibrand said. 'It is a serious word. It is a word that has deep meaning. It has been used for wars across time and violence and destruction and slaughter and murder against the Jews,' she continued. 4 Zohran Mamdani is an assemblyman now running to be NYC's. next mayor. Stephen Yang 'It is a harmful, hurtful, inappropriate word for anyone who wants to represent a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people.' Gillibrand said she spoke to Mamdani on the phone after his Democratic primary upset over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this week, but now wants a meeting to hash it out. 'I've never sat down with Mr Mamdani. So I've asked to have that meeting. I'm going to have that meeting,' she said. 4 New York, New York, United States: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) alongside U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mariama James (R). Gillibrand said she had already expressed her concerns directly to Mamdani about his statements regarding Israel and pubic safety — and that he'd vowed to work with her if he's elected. 'This is something I care deeply about, and so I will be an advocate on these issues. These are things that I think are important to New Yorkers,' she said. 'And I will work with him when he gets elected, if he gets elected, to make sure everyone is protected.'
Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Rapper-turned-reformer Zohran Mamdani unconventional path to NYC mayoral
SHAH ALAM – He rapped his way through high school, surfed SoundCloud in his twenties and now, Zohran Mamdani, rapper-turned-rent reformer, is one step away from becoming the next Mayor of New York City. The 33-year-old Democratic socialist and first-generation immigrant has just pulled off a stunning political upset, defeating former Governor and seasoned political heavyweight Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. AFP photo He is now primed to record a historic moment in United States (US) history as the first Muslim immigrant Mayor of New York City, the country's largest city. A Mayor in the Making, Born in Kampala Born in Kampala, Uganda, to celebrated filmmaker Mira Nair and Harvard professor Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran was just seven when his family moved to New York. Despite having a last name that carried prestige in academic and creative circles, Zohran's own path was what many would call unconventional. Still, for immigrants around the world who resonated with him, his journey was not all that different from theirs. He grew up navigating immigrant life in Queens, attended the Bronx High School of Science where he lost a student council race after running a campaign entirely in rhyme and eventually earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. There, he co-founded the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, planting the seeds of a lifelong activist streak. He became a US citizen in 2018 and wasted no time diving into grassroots politics. Just three years later, he won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing Astoria, Queens and the rest, as they say, is political history in the making. Mr. Cardamom, Your Future Mayor? Before politics, there was poetry. And beats subjective tastes apply. Mamdani's past life as a rapper under the names "Young Cardamom" and "Mr. Cardamom" has become the internet's favourite subplot in his meteoric rise. His single '#1 Spice,' created with childhood friend Abdul Car Hussein (a.k.a. HAB), earned a spot on the soundtrack of Disney's Queen of Katwe, a film directed by his own mother. 'Every brown boy lived on SoundCloud at one point,' he joked during a recent appearance on the Kutti Gang comedy show. 'I'm running on a very simple message. It's not about being on SoundCloud, though, respect," he said. His 2019 music video for the track 'Nani,' a playful ode to his grandmother Praveen Nair (founder of the Salaam Baalak Trust), starred Indian-American legend Madhur Jaffrey and has now surpassed 279,000 views on YouTube. With lyrics like '85 years gold' and 'best damn Nani that you ever done seen,' Mamdani's creative chops clearly extend beyond policy memos. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) greets voters with Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Blake on 161st Street on June 24, 2025 in the South Bronx in New York City. AFP photo Grassroots Gold Mamdani's campaign has echoed the structure of his past projects: creative, scrappy and built on community support. His bid for mayor raised over US$7 million, largely from more than 16,000 small donors. Consider that his net worth, estimated only to be between US$200,000 and US$300,000, stands in stark contrast to the billionaires who typically dominate American politics. His income largely comes from his US$142,000 salary as an Assemblyman and he also receives annual rap royalties, amounting to approximately US$1,267 per year. It is not just about the money. Mamdani's message has resonated across New York's working-class, immigrant and progressive communities. His proposals include free public buses, city-run affordable grocery stores, tripling the production of union-built rent-stabilised housing and a US$10 billion tax hike on the wealthy to fund it all. "This is a city where one in four of its people are living in poverty, a city where 500,000 kids go to sleep hungry every night. 'Ultimately, it's a city that is in danger of losing that which makes it so special," Mamdani said in a talk with BBC. Unafraid and Unapologetically Muslim A sorely missed but undoubtedly needed element in America's often complex and ever-shifting stance on pro-Islamic and anti-Islamic matters is a Muslim voice. Mamdani, however, wears his faith proudly. It is interesting to note that throughout his campaign and during Ramadan, he broke fast on a subway train with a burrito to highlight food insecurity. He also frequently visited mosques and released a campaign video entirely in Urdu. Mira Nair, New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) Rama Duwaji and Mahmood Mamdani celebrate on stage during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighbourhood of the Queens borough in New York City. AFP photo 'We know that to stand in public as a Muslim is also to sacrifice the safety that we can sometimes find in the shadows,' he told a rally this spring. Despite the overwhelming support from American Muslims and Muslims worldwide, that visibility has undoubtedly painted a large bullseye target on his back. Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has faced Islamophobic threats and even calls for deportation from Donald Trump-aligned council members—despite being a US citizen. 'Death threats. Islamophobic bigotry. Now a sitting Council member is calling for my deportation. Enough. This is what Trump and his sycophants have wrought. It's an assault on the values of our city and our Constitution,' his response stated. Trump's Worst Nightmare If Mamdani is the musical, multicultural antithesis of a billionaire real estate mogul and twice-impeached convicted felon, it is most definitely not by accident. 'I am Donald Trump's worst nightmare as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in,' Mamdani declared earlier in his campaign. Trump, never one to hold back, took to Truth Social with his signature flair for hyperbole and insult and fired back at the soon-to-be youngest New York Mayor in United States history. 'It's finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100 per cent communist lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary and is on his way to becoming Mayor. We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he's not very smart,' Trump wrote. In a separate post, Trump mocked Democratic backers like New York City congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and called US Senator Chuck Schumer 'our Great Palestinian Senator,' accusing him of 'grovelling over Mamdani.' A Hopeful Future Whether rapping about turmeric or battling for tenant rights, Mamdani's journey from Kampala to City Hall has never been linear. It's been poetic, political and sometimes personal. With his grassroots engine, progressive policies and a platform grounded in dignity and diversity, he's not just campaigning for mayor, he's rewriting what leadership can look like in the biggest city in the world. 'Tonight, we made history. 'I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City," Mamdani told his supporters. All that's left is the final chorus when Mr. Cardamom becomes Mayor Mamdani, bringing some poetic justice to New York and America.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Rama Duwaji? Zohran Mamdani's artist wife who he met on Hinge
Rama Duwaji, an accomplished Syrian-American artist, is the wife of Zohran Mamdani — the 33-year-old state assemblyman who shocked many by defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo to clinch the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor. Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, look into each other's eyes during a watch party for his primary election, which includes his bid to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming November 2025 election, in New York City, U.S., June 25, 2025.(Reuters) On election day, Duwaji took to Instagram with a four-word post — 'couldn't possibly be prouder' — a statement that said everything without needing to say more. The 27-year-old, Duwaji, whose multimedia work often centers on pro-Palestinian themes joined her husband onstage as he declared victory over Cuomo. Zohran Mamdani paused to thank her during his speech, saying, 'I must thank my incredible wife. Rama, thank you,' before kissing her hand. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) kisses the hand of his wife Rama Duwaji as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (AFP) If Mamdani defeats incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa in November, he would become New York City's first Muslim mayor — and Duwaji, its First Lady. 'Art is inherently political' Duwaji's work is not neutral. Her illustrations often touch on themes of identity, resistance, and injustice—particularly through a pro-Palestinian lens. In an interview in April about art and activism, she was asked whether artists have a duty to speak on global issues. 'I'll always quote Nina Simone: 'An artist's duty as far as I'm concerned is to reflect the times,'' she said. Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji attends a watch party for Mamdani's primary election, which includes his bid to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming November 2025 election, in New York City, U.S., June 24, 2025(Reuters) 'I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,' she continued. 'And art has such an ability to spread it. I don't think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it's made, funded, and shared. Even creating art as a refuge from the horrors we see is political to me. It's a reaction to the world around us," she said, the Associated Press reported. Duwaji, a Brooklyn-based illustrator, has worked with some of the world's most prominent institutions. According to AP, her clientele includes The New Yorker, The Washington Post, the BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE, and London's Tate Modern. On Election Day, Duwaji's mother-in-law, filmmaker Mira Nair, posted a message to her daughter-in-law about art and its importance. Zohran Mamdani reacts next to his mother Mira Nair and wife Rama Duwaji during a watch party for his primary election, which includes his bid to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming November 2025 election, in New York City, U.S., June 25, 2025.(Reuters) Love story begins on Hinge The couple's story is as modern as it gets. 'I met my wife on Hinge so there is still hope in those dating apps,' Mamdani joked on The Bulwark podcast, laughing. About six weeks ago, Mamdani posted a photo set from their civil wedding. The lead image was a poetic black-and-white moment in the Union Square subway. Duwaji, in a simple white dress and boots, held a bouquet as she and Mamdani stood smiling in a train car, surrounded by indifferent commuters. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji is a Syrian-born illustrator and animator based out of Brooklyn, NYC. (Instagram/zohrankmamdani) 'Before their civil ceremony in New York City, Zohran and his wife celebrated their engagement in Dubai last year—where her family lives—with a small, joyful ceremony surrounded by their loved ones,' The New York Post reported citing Mamdani's campaign statement. Couples faced massive online backlash The couple has faced intense online harassment, much of it politically driven. 'If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day for that matter, you know how vicious politics can be,' Mamdani wrote in a heartfelt caption. 'I usually brush it off, whether it's death threats or calls for me to be deported. But it's different when it's about those you love. Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk's office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her.' 'Rama isn't just my wife,' he added. 'She's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can critique my views, but not my family.' (With AP inputs)
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani's NYC Win is a Political Revolution
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary is more than just a stunning political upset. A self-described democratic socialist who ran on taxing the rich and making the city affordable, Mamdani defeated disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded, familiar and powerful figure backed by billionaire donors and establishment Democrats alike. Mamdani took such a commanding lead over Cuomo on Tuesday that the former governor, who was seeking a comeback after resigning in disgrace over a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the race early. The ultimate outcome may not be known for days due to the city's ranked choice voting system. He will now face off against incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in November's election—and Cuomo could still reenter the race. Still, Mamdani, a progressive upstart with a history of pro-Palestinian activism, is on course to become the first Muslim mayor of the nation's largest city. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the... New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. More Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images His victory is sure to reverberate through the Democratic Party at a time when it remains ideologically divided about its future after losing the White House in November. "Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York City's Democratic primary represents more than just an electoral upset. It's a confirmation that progressive politics, when pursued with discipline, vision and vigor, can resonate broadly – even in a city known for its entrenched power structures," said Bhaskar Sunkara, president of progressive politics magazine The Nation, in an opinion piece for The Guardian. National Democrats will also likely look to Mamdani's winning strategy as they try to win back younger voters who abandoned them in November's election. Pollster Nate Silver wrote in a post on his Silver Bulletin website that it shows how the "aging Democratic establishment should probably be put out to pasture." He wrote: "If you want to inspire younger voters, nominate younger candidates. Mamdani, at age 33, is literally half Cuomo's age: the former governor is 67." Mamdani "thoroughly earned the win, and Cuomo and the Democratic establishment thoroughly earned the loss," Silver added. "And even if they finally take the hint, generational turnover in the Democratic Party is coming whether they like it or not." The progressive candidate defeated Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded figure backed by establishment Democrats, in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. The progressive candidate defeated Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded figure backed by establishment Democrats, in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. Getty/Newsweek David Hogg, who has clashed with Democratic National Committee leadership over his plan to raise money for young progressive candidates challenging Democratic incumbents, said on X that Mamdani's campaign "constantly grows in size in person and virtually bc people believe the message so much this share it for free and get others to join in. People want something to believe in & for many Zohran was the first Democrat who gave them that, post 2024." Pablo O'Hana, a political advisor and campaign strategist who worked on former vice president Kamala Harris' failed presidential campaign last year, said Mamdani's win "is proof" that progressive ideas can win elections. Mamdani "speaks the language of renters, immigrants and low-income workers – not in abstract policy terms, but with urgency and clarity," O'Hana wrote in an opinion piece for The Independent newspaper. His platform focused on freezing rent, building affordable housing, free buses, free child care, a higher minimum wage and more, mostly paid for by new taxes on the rich. New York City "is not as friendly to progressive leftism as you might find on the West Coast," Silver noted. "Instead, it has elected mayors like Adams, Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, and there's recently been a conservative backlash in the city, which swung strongly to Donald Trump last year. But that makes Zohran's win more impressive, not less." But Thomas Gift, the director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, said Mamdani's victory could prove to be short-lived. "Mamdani's politics resonate with a relatively narrow segment of Democratic elites, which may be enough to win a New York City primary but is likely to face stiffer competition in a general election," he told Newsweek. "Self-styled socialists always have a ceiling of support." Gift added that Mamdani was also "fortunate to face a scandal-plagued primary challenger whom many New Yorkers were eager to cast aside—yet again." Mamdani's success also came despite his defiant stance against Israel, which led to accusations of antisemitism that he refuted. "In a city with more Jewish residents than Tel Aviv, this would typically be politically suicidal," O'Hana wrote. "But Mamdani has made a sharp distinction between opposing Israeli government policy and antisemitism – a feat that seems to have eluded practically every left-wing politician on the planet." Margaret DeReus, the executive director of the nonprofit IMEU Policy Project, said in a statement to Newsweek that not only did Mamdani "run a progressive campaign to lift up working-class New Yorkers of every race and in every borough, he stood up for Palestinian rights despite relentless attacks. "He understands that voters want to see their tax dollars go toward making housing, transportation, healthcare, and education affordable — not sending weapons for Israel to kill Palestinians. This is a winning message for Democrats—in New York City and around the country."
