Republicans Push Trump to Deport NYC Mayor Winner Zohran Mamdani

By David LaGuerre- 

Political attacks escalate as GOP targets naturalized citizen’s victory

The Republican Party’s response to Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary reveals how quickly political opposition can transform into dangerous territory. Within hours of the 33-year-old democratic socialist’s win against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, GOP leaders launched an unprecedented campaign demanding President Trump strip Mamdani of his citizenship and deport him from the country he’s called home since age 7.

This isn’t typical political opposition. This represents something far more troubling about the current state of American politics.

The Victory That Sparked Controversy

Mamdani secured 43.5% of the vote against Cuomo’s 36.4% in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, positioning himself to potentially become New York City’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor. The Ugandan-born candidate, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018, ran on a progressive platform that earned endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

His victory represents a significant shift in New York politics, with voters choosing a self-described democratic socialist over the political establishment. But rather than engage with his policy positions, Republicans immediately questioned his right to participate in American democracy.

The Deportation Demands

Congressional Action

Tennessee Republican Representative Andy Ogles took the lead in targeting Mamdani’s citizenship. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Ogles requested an investigation claiming Mamdani “may have procured U.S. citizenship through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism.”

The evidence? Rap lyrics from Mamdani’s past performances as “Mr. Cardamom” that referenced “Free the Holy Land Five,” referring to individuals convicted in 2008 of illegally funneling money to Hamas.

Ogles acknowledged potential First Amendment concerns but argued that “speech alone does not preclude accountability where it reasonably suggests underlying conduct relevant to eligibility for naturalization.”

Cold War-Era Tactics

The New York Young Republican Club escalated further, invoking the Communist Control Act of 1954 to demand Mamdani’s deportation. This McCarthy-era legislation, rarely enforced and considered constitutionally questionable, was designed to outlaw the Communist Party during Cold War tensions.

“The radical Zohran Mamdani cannot be allowed to destroy our beloved city of New York,” the group posted on social media, tagging Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and “border czar” Tom Homan with the message: “New York is counting on you.”

Trump and Administration Response

President Trump amplified these attacks, posting on Truth Social: “It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary.”

Stephen Miller framed Mamdani’s victory as evidence of immigration failure, writing: “NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration.”

Legal Reality vs. Political Theater

Constitutional Protections

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek the Republican demands are “legally baseless and blatantly unconstitutional.” The Communist Control Act “has long been considered to be unenforceable” and “citizenship cannot be revoked based on political beliefs or party preferences because they are protected by the First Amendment.”

The law has never successfully been used to deport a U.S. citizen, making the Republican calls more about political posturing than realistic legal action.

Mamdani’s Background

Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991, Mamdani moved to New York City with his family when he was 7 years old. He became a naturalized citizen in 2018 and currently serves as a New York State Assemblyman. His campaign positioned him as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare, as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in.”

Beyond Policy: The Escalation of Attacks

Islamophobic Rhetoric

The attacks extended beyond policy disagreements into explicitly bigoted territory. Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who has ties to the White House, posted: “There will be another 9/11 in NYC and @ZohranKMamdani will be to blame.”

This represents the dangerous intersection of Islamophobia and political opposition, where a candidate’s religion becomes grounds for predicting terrorism.

Questioning Citizenship Duration

New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino contributed to the attacks, writing: “Let’s just talk about how insane it is to elect someone to any major office who hasn’t even been a US citizen for ten years.”

This argument suggests a hierarchy of citizenship, where naturalized Americans somehow possess lesser democratic rights than those born in the United States.

Democratic Response and Support

Warren’s Endorsement

Senator Elizabeth Warren quickly endorsed Mamdani, posting: “Zohran’s inspiring campaign showed what grassroots movements can achieve when we fight for bold policies. I strongly support [Mamdani]. He’ll be a fantastic mayor!”

Mamdani’s Response

Mamdani directly addressed the citizenship attacks, responding to Paladino: “Like nearly 40% of all New Yorkers, I wasn’t born in this country. I moved here at age 7. It’s my home. And I’m proud to be a citizen, which means standing up for our Constitution.”

The Path Forward

Mamdani will face current Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa in November’s general election. Betting markets give him a 73.6% chance of victory.

The Dangerous Practice of Political Othering

Beyond Normal Opposition

The Republican response to Mamdani’s victory represents more than typical political opposition. By questioning his citizenship, invoking Cold War-era laws, and suggesting deportation, they’re practicing a form of political othering that fundamentally challenges the democratic principle that all citizens possess equal rights to participate in governance.

This strategy seeks to delegitimize political opponents not through policy debates but by questioning their very right to exist in American political space. When Rep. Ogles referred to Mamdani as “little Muhammad” in his deportation calls, he revealed how easily political opposition transforms into ethnic and religious bigotry.

Historical Echoes

The invocation of the Communist Control Act deliberately echoes McCarthyism’s darkest chapters, when Americans faced persecution for their political beliefs. Using a law designed during Cold War paranoia to target a democratically elected official suggests a willingness to weaponize historical fears against contemporary political opponents.

The Naturalized Citizen Standard

Perhaps most troubling is the implicit argument that naturalized citizens somehow possess second-class status in American democracy. This perspective fundamentally contradicts the Constitution’s promise of equal citizenship regardless of birth circumstances.

When political leaders suggest that seven years of citizenship isn’t “enough” for major office, they create a dangerous precedent that could affect millions of naturalized Americans who contribute to every aspect of American life.

The attacks on Zohran Mamdani reveal how quickly political disagreement can escalate into fundamental challenges to democratic participation. As voters prepare for November’s election, they must decide whether New York City will embrace the full promise of American democracy or succumb to the politics of exclusion and othering.

The stakes extend far beyond one mayoral race. They touch the very foundation of who gets to call themselves truly American in 2025.