US President Donald Trump has once again launched an attack on New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, calling him a “communist” in a new interview aired on CBS’ 60 Minutes.
During the interview with host Norah O’Donnell, Trump corrected her when she referred to Mamdani as a socialist. “Communist, not a socialist, he’s far worse than a socialist,” Trump said. When O’Donnell noted that some people have compared Mamdani to a left-wing version of Trump, charismatic and rule-breaking, the US President replied with a smirk, “Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person.”
The remarks come just a day before New Yorkers head to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, to elect their next mayor. Mamdani, who has described himself as a democratic socialist, is leading the race and could become the first Muslim mayor in the United States.
Trump’s comments are the latest in a series of personal and political attacks on Mamdani. After Mamdani’s surprise victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary earlier this year, Trump called him a “100% Communist Lunatic” on Truth Social. He also mocked Mamdani’s appearance, saying, “He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, and he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him.”
Zohran Mamdani, the son of Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan-Indian scholar Mahmood Mamdani, has built a strong following among young and progressive voters.
His campaign has emphasised affordable housing, healthcare access, and community-led governance, while openly embracing his Muslim identity as part of New York’s diverse fabric.
Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
