Just days after becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor-elect, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani is facing an unusual threat: the President is hinting he could “revoke his citizenship.” Mamdani won decisively on November 4 against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, making him the first Muslim, first South Asian, first African-born, and first Millennial to lead the city starting January 1, 2026.

At his election night rally, he said he would not apologize for being young, Muslim, or a democratic socialist, insisting that his win showed New Yorkers were ready for bold change. His platform focused on affordability — free buses, universal childcare, and a freeze on rent-stabilized units — which energized a strong grassroots base despite well-funded opposition.

Mamdani’s story began in Uganda, and he moved to the U.S. at age seven, becoming a citizen in 2018. That milestone later became a political flashpoint. After his win, President Trump questioned his legitimacy and even suggested he could be deported.

Tensions rose further after Mamdani announced he would stop “masked ICE agents” from intimidating immigrants. Trump called him a “nut job,” while Mamdani said such remarks were “authoritarian threats meant to silence dissent.”

Other Republicans joined in. Congressman Andy Ogles demanded Mamdani be stripped of citizenship and accused him of hiding extremist ties, though he offered no evidence. Legal experts dismissed the claims, noting that denaturalization requires proof and a court ruling. Mamdani told supporters that targeting him was really an attack on the wider community, and he vowed not to be intimidated.