Sir Sadiq Khan has embraced a significant development in New York as Democrat Zohran Mamdani emerges victorious as the city’s new mayor, dealing a blow to Donald Trump.
Despite President Trump’s support for former governor Andrew Cuomo, labeling Mamdani as a “communist” and threatening to slash federal funding if Mamdani won, Mamdani secured the mayoral seat, defeating Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani will make history as the city’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian descent.
Sir Sadiq praised Mamdani’s win, acknowledging it as a “historic campaign” and noting that Mamdani will become New York’s youngest mayor in over a century when he assumes office on January 1.
In a supportive message, Sir Sadiq highlighted the choice between “hope and fear” faced by New Yorkers, drawing parallels to London’s experience where hope emerged victorious.
The London mayor’s endorsement of Mamdani follows a long-standing feud with Trump, dating back to 2015 when Trump proposed a ban on Muslims entering the US, a move strongly condemned by Sir Sadiq.
Trump’s criticisms of Sir Sadiq continued during his UK visit, where he disparaged the mayor as one of the worst in the world and alleged he requested Sir Sadiq not attend events.
During a speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump falsely accused Sir Sadiq of pushing for Sharia law in London, prompting a sharp response from the London mayor, who branded Trump as racist and Islamophobic.
Mamdani, in his victory speech, directly addressed Trump, inviting him to “turn the volume up” to hear the cheers of his supporters. He reiterated New York’s identity as a city of immigrants, emphasizing its immigrant roots and declaring it would continue to be led by an immigrant.
The city’s Board of Elections reported a record voter turnout, with over two million ballots cast, marking the highest participation in over 50 years.
In response to Mamdani’s win, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed a limited interest in American politics, highlighting the global attention drawn to Mamdani’s victory.
