On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, threatening to assert federal control over the city depending on the outcome of the upcoming November election.

“As President, I will not allow this Communist Lunatic to destroy New York,” Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I have all the tools, and I hold all the cards. I will bring New York City back to its former glory—make it ‘Hot’ and ‘Great’ again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!”

Trump also hinted at a possible federal investigation into Mamdani’s legal status and warned he could pursue his arrest if Mamdani interferes with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the city.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and member of the New York State Assembly, shocked many by winning the Democratic mayoral primary in June. His rapid political rise—from a relatively unknown progressive lawmaker to the front-runner to lead the nation’s largest city—has stirred anxiety among both Republicans and moderates who view him as emblematic of a shifting political climate.

A central pillar of Mamdani’s campaign is a sweeping reform of the city’s property tax system. His “Stop the Squeeze on NYC Homeowners” plan aims to shift the tax burden from working-class communities of color in the outer boroughs to wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. The campaign argues that outdated tax caps have enabled affluent homeowners to pay disproportionately low taxes, while Black, Latino, and immigrant homeowners in neighborhoods like Brownsville and Jamaica face heavier burdens and higher foreclosure risk.

His proposal calls for reducing assessed values in overtaxed areas and increasing real tax rates on expensive properties, ultimately lowering bills for lower-income residents. Additionally, Mamdani proposes a $10 million “Tangled Title Fund” to help residents resolve inheritance and deed ownership disputes, issues that disproportionately impact Black communities.

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, openly frames his platform as a fight against white supremacy and racial inequality, emphasizing housing justice. His plan includes abolishing the city’s tax lien sale system—criticized for favoring Wall Street-backed investors—and replacing it with a more homeowner-friendly structure offering expanded payment options and foreclosure prevention.

He also calls for the construction of 200,000 publicly funded affordable housing units, a citywide rent freeze, and robust rent controls to stabilize housing for millions of renters.