Zohran Mamdani brings anti-Trump tour to Trump-friendly Staten Island
Mamdani won several election precincts in the borough in the June primary, but his more moderate opponent Andrew Cuomo carried the island. His appearance Wednesday drew a crowd of vocal opponents.
'I know that though there are Staten Islanders who are passionate in their support for Donald Trump, there are some of those who voted for both of us,' Mamdani said, speaking from the backyard of a Stapleton Turkish restaurant.
'I do not blame them, because what they may have heard is a throughline in just how suffocating this cost of living crisis is.'
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has run on an affordability platform, promising free buses, a rent freeze for stabilized units and free childcare.
On Wednesday, he also slammed President Trump's mass deportation agenda, pointing out that one in four Staten Islanders were born outside the country.
'We will not be accomplices in the attempt to fulfill Donald Trump's promise to create the largest deportation machine this country has ever seen,' Mamdani said.
The assemblymember is facing off against Cuomo, Mayor Adams, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and independent Jim Walden in the November general election.
Mamdani was introduced on Wednesday by officials from a range of political backgrounds, including immigration advocates, former Councilmembers Debi Rose and Sal Albanese and local district leaders Ali Ansari and Jasmine Robinson, who endorsed Cuomo in the primary.
'We know that progressive ideas have a home here, just like so many others,' Mamdani said.
Outside the event, protesters wearing Trump gear and carrying signs in support of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa jeered at Mamdani, calling him a 'communist' and yelling hateful epithets.
Mamdani said that language 'saddens' him.
'I will not let it dissuade me from continuing to come to Staten Island, from continuing to speak to New Yorkers, no matter where they live, no matter what politics they have,' he said.
On Tuesday, the candidate appeared in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where speakers encouraged establishment Democrats like U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to get behind Mamdani. Despite winning over some institutional support since his primary victory, Mamdani has not yet garnered the support of some of the city's Democratic heavy-hitters.
'Zohran has listened to what the people need, what they want, and has developed a plan to make that happen,' former Councilmember Rose said on Wednesday. 'And so I'm here today to say to you that we should not be afraid as a party to endorse and embrace Zohran Mamdani.'
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