Zohran Mamdani Counters Trump’s Criticism of NYC Mayor’s Tax Plan
Zohran Mamdani responded on Friday after President Donald Trump criticized the city’s new tax proposal. The exchange followed comments the president made at a Las Vegas roundtable on Thursday.
Trump’s remarks and social media post
At the Las Vegas event, Trump said, “I mean, he’s a nice guy. Calls me all the time, says hi, but his policies are no good.” Earlier, the president posted that the mayor was “destroying New York.” These comments came after the tax plan announcement.
Mamdani’s defense of the proposal
Mamdani pushed back against Trump’s criticism on Friday. He said 93% of New Yorkers support a pied-à-terre tax on non-resident buyers of luxury properties.
He estimated the levy would raise about half a billion dollars each year. The mayor said those revenues would support key services.
Planned uses for revenue
- Free child care
- Cleaner streets
- Safer neighborhoods
On taxing the wealthy
Mamdani said he is “deeply supportive of taxing the rich.” He added that taxes on non-resident secondary homes valued over $5 million fit that approach.
“The president and I both want this city to succeed,” Mamdani said. “This is how you do it,” he added, defending the tax plan.
Timeline and context
The pied-à-terre tax was announced on Wednesday by the mayor and Governor Kathy Hochul. Trump’s Thursday comments followed that announcement.
Filmogaz.com reported the exchange and the mayor’s public response on Friday. The debate highlights tensions over the NYC mayor’s tax plan and national political reactions.
