Sir Sadiq Khan has expressed his satisfaction at a significant setback for Donald Trump as New York elected Democrat Zohran Mamdani as the city’s new mayor.
Former US President Donald Trump had vocally supported the unsuccessful former governor Andrew Cuomo and derided Mr. Mamdani as a “communist,” even threatening to withhold federal funding from New York if Mr. Mamdani emerged victorious.
Nevertheless, Mr. Mamdani has emerged triumphant, defeating both Mr. Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become the city’s inaugural Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian descent.
Sir Sadiq extended his congratulations to Mr. Mamdani, who is set to become New York’s youngest mayor in over a century when he assumes office on January 1, commending his “historic campaign.”
In a statement on X, Sir Sadiq remarked, “New Yorkers were presented with a clear choice – between hope and fear – and similar to what we’ve witnessed in London, hope prevailed.”
Sir Sadiq’s endorsement of Mr. Mamdani follows a prolonged clash between the London mayor and Mr. Trump.
The US president has persistently criticized Sir Sadiq since 2015 when the Labour politician condemned his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US.
During Mr. Trump’s state visit to the UK in September, he labeled Sir Sadiq as “among the worst mayors in the world” and purportedly requested that the mayor abstain from attending events during the visit.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, the US president falsely alleged that Sir Sadiq aimed to enforce Sharia law in London.
In response, the London mayor branded Donald Trump as “racist, sexist, misogynistic,” and “Islamophobic.”
He previously remarked, “People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head. I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he’s Islamophobic.”
In his victory speech, Mr. Mamdani directly addressed Trump, urging him to “turn the volume up” to hear the resounding cheers from supporters.
In a bold speech, he asserted, “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”
The city’s Board of Elections reported that the election witnessed the highest voter turnout in more than half a century, with over two million ballots cast.
Elsewhere, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “I don’t follow American politics especially closely” when asked about Mr. Mamdani’s victory.