Sir Sadiq Khan has expressed satisfaction over a significant development for Donald Trump as Democrat Zohran Mamdani was elected as the new mayor of New York City.
Despite President Trump’s endorsement of former governor Andrew Cuomo, labeling Mamdani a “communist,” and threatening to withhold federal funding from New York in case of Mamdani’s victory, Mamdani emerged victorious, defeating Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become the city’s inaugural Muslim mayor of South Asian descent.
Sir Sadiq congratulated Mamdani, set to assume office on January 1 as New York’s youngest mayor in over a century, praising his “historic campaign” and noting that New Yorkers opted for hope over fear, mirroring London’s recent trends.
This support from Sir Sadiq follows a longstanding feud between the London mayor and Trump, with the latter criticizing Sadiq since 2015 when the Labour politician criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US.
In his victory speech, Mamdani took a stand against Trump, urging him to “turn the volume up” to hear the resounding cheers of his supporters. He affirmed New York’s identity as a city of immigrants, emphasizing its resilience against Trump’s policies.
The city’s Board of Elections reported a record voter turnout in over 50 years, with more than two million ballots cast, indicating significant public engagement. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, when asked about Mamdani’s win, mentioned that she does not closely monitor American politics.