Trump admits Republicans ‘had a bad night’ as NYC votes in celebrity-loving, former ‘B-list rapper’ socialist Zohran Mamdani in as mayor after he promised free buses and $30-an-hour minimum wages

Donald Trump and the Republican Party were rocked last night when socialist Zohran Mamdani was confirmed as the next mayor of New York City in a landslide victory.

With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, the 34-year-old candidate received at least 1.3 million more votes than her other candidates, former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, combined.

The result caps a meteoric rise for the celebrity-loving Queens councilman who once described himself as a “B-list rapper.”

Mamdani’s win also means New York will have its youngest mayor and first South Asian mayor in more than a century.

But many New Yorkers worry that his victory will leave them worse off; Some vow to flee the city due to job losses, crime, anti-Semitic hatred and violence.

While his victory speech attracted thousands of enthusiastic supporters, US President Trump downplayed the achievement.

He said: ‘Victory was not expected. Very Democratic areas. But I don’t think that’s good for Republicans or for anyone. We learned a lot.”

In his own speech, Mamdani gave the following message to Trump: ‘Well, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn up the volume.’

In that speech, Mamdani outlined initial promises he plans to implement, including universal child care, express and free buses, and a freeze on rent increases for tenants in rent-stabilized units.

His broader platform emphasized affordability measures like a $30 minimum wage, additional affordable housing and higher taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents.

Celebrations lasted late into the night at the Brooklyn Paramount; There was a high-profile crowd that included Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Attorney General Letitia James, City Comptroller Brad Lander and actor Cynthia Nixon. Twitch streamer Hasan Pike was also at the party.

Hosting breakfast in the White House’s State Dining Room, Trump acknowledged that Mamdani’s victory was not good for the Republican Party

The former mayor once had a rap career where he performed rhymes under the name Mr. Cardamom.

Mamdani’s campaign has received national progressive support throughout the year, including endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Ocasio Cortez.

It also had support from celebrities ranging from Lupita Nyong’o to Emily Ratajkowski, Hari Nef and Bowen Yang, with embedded posts showing statements and voting day pictures.

On the other side of the Atlantic, London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly congratulated Mamdani and said New York had chosen hope over fear. “New Yorkers faced a clear choice between hope and fear, and just as we saw in London, hope won,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

Trump weighed in on the race before the polls closed, branding Mamdani a ‘communist’ and threatening to restrict federal funding if he won, and backed Cuomo on the eve of the vote.

Mamdani’s team and supporters framed the final result as a mandate for affordability measures and a rejection of attacks marring the contest.

On the eve of the elections, Trump hinted that he would cut funding to New York if Mamdani won the elections.

He wrote on Truth Social: ‘If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City Mayoral Election, I am unlikely to contribute Federal Funds beyond the required minimum towards my beloved first home.’

He added: ‘As president, I don’t want to send good money after bad money.’ This was a reflection of his earlier sentiments in which he had labeled Mamdani a communist.

Mamdani moved to New York with her family when she was seven years old. He was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin.

He faced scrutiny when his application to Columbia University resurfaced in 2009; He described his race as both ‘Asian’ and ‘Black or African American’.

Before he became a politician, Mamdani tried to carve out a surprising rap career under the strange name Mr. Cardamom.

In the music video for one of his songs called Nani, he urges his fans to take money and be good to their grandmothers

Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, whom she met on the dating app Hinge. Some of her friends describe her as a modern-day Princess Diana

In his song Nani, which he wrote as a tribute to his grandmother, he urges the listeners to ‘get the guap, or spend some money on Nani’.

The self-proclaimed former ‘B-list rapper’ even had a music video for the song, with Madhur Jaffrey playing the role of her grandmother.

Mamdani also appears in the video; He’s shirtless, in an apron, and dancing to the beat.

And it turns out he still receives royalties from his hip hop ventures. His tax return showed he earned $1,267 in royalties; That doesn’t compare to the $131,000 salary he earned in the state legislature.

His love life also aroused great interest. She is currently married to Rama Duwaji, who is set to become New York City’s youngest First Lady at the age of 28.

The couple first met on the dating app Hinge in 2021 and got engaged in October 2025. They were married in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall. In July 2025, they traveled to Uganda for a ceremony to celebrate their union.

Until recently, Duwaji, who grew up in Dubai, had avoided the spotlight, a move that sparked a backlash from Mamdani’s critics.

However, his friends praised him in many interviews. One even told the New York Times last month: ‘She is our modern-day Princess Diana.’

Last year, it was revealed that Mamdani was still receiving royalties from his days as Mr. Cardamom

Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and broadcaster Hasan Piker were seen at the celebration

He currently works as an animator, illustrator and ceramicist. His work has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post. His art has also been featured in Tate Modern.

When the couple was photographed dining at Omen Sushi in Manhattan last month, many people complained on social media, saying it was one of the most expensive places in the city.

Other users came to their defense and shared menus that they said proved that the prices at the restaurant were not that special.

His critics wondered whether he would be elected in other parts of the country.

Observers also questioned whether he would have enough time to implement his ambitious policies, following the mixed record of his predecessors.

A recent Daily Mail poll predicted that 25 percent of New York City residents would ‘consider’ moving if he won the election. His proposed policies have frightened some locals and analysts.

He has pledged to freeze rent increases and promised to build 200,000 new homes, estimated to cost $100 billion. Critics say this will cause famine and lead to loss of private investment.

The free bus ticket agenda was also questioned; Skeptics say this will cause a huge loss in revenues and a sharp decline in service quality.

Mamdani with her husband Rama Duwaji. His win sparked concern among some New York residents and analysts

Mamdani’s promise to offer free child care from six weeks to five years old cost $8 billion. Opponents say it won’t be completely free and taxpayers will have to foot the big bill.

Businesses are also concerned about his $30 minimum wage pledge. This has led to concerns about layoffs and reduced working hours. California tried to implement a similar policy, but that also failed.

Many also fear increased crime in the city. While 47 percent believe crime will get worse, only 32 percent believe the city will be safer under his watch, according to the poll.