Mamdani destroying New York: Trump
US President Donald Trump has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “destroying” the city over a proposed tax on second homes, marking his most direct criticism of the mayor since two cordial White House meetings months earlier.
The US president issued his remarks in post on Truth Social, responding to the mayor’s latest fiscal proposal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote.
“It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he continued. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”
The tax, jointly announced yesterday by Mamdani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, would target secondary homes in New York City valued at more than $5 million.
The Democratic leaders said the proposal is expected to raise $500 million for the city.
“If you can afford a $5 million second home that sits empty most of the year, you can afford to contribute like every other New Yorker,” Hochul said in a statement.
Speaking at a Thursday press conference, Mamdani said the measure would support efforts by him and the governor to reduce the city’s budget deficit, projected to reach $5.4 billion in the next fiscal year.
“We’re talking about the levels of wealth that are storing themselves here in New York City all at the time at which our city is facing a generational fiscal crisis, so I think that this is something worthy of celebration as part of the work that we are doing with the governor,” he told reporters.
Mamdani’s relationship with Trump has been turbulent. During his mayoral campaign, the Democrat described the president as a “despot”, while Trump has labelled Mamdani, a democratic socialist, a “communist”.
Despite the rhetoric, the two have at times found common ground on affordability. Trump struck a notably positive tone during their first Oval Office meeting last November, and the pair met again at the White House in February, with both describing the talks as constructive.
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