California Rep. Ro Khanna (D) on Thursday suggested President Trump launch a mayoral campaign due to his repeated involvement in local conflicts across the country.
“I wonder if President Trump ran for the wrong job because he seems to really want to be mayor. I mean, if he really wants to deal with the streets, he should run for mayor,” Khanna said during a Thursday evening appearance on CNN’s “NewsNight.”
“He wants to run against Mamdani, he should run for mayor,” the California lawmaker added.
Khanna’s comments come in the wake of Thursday reports that Trump advisers have discussed offering New York City Mayor Eric Adams a job in exchange for his dropping out of the mayoral race, therefore giving former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) a better chance of defeating Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani.
In July, the president slammed Mamdani for suggesting New York City residents gain access to free childcare and government-run grocery stores.
“As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Trump posted on Truth Social, a reference to Mamdani. “Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. I’ll save New York City, and make it ‘Hot’ and ‘Great’ again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!”
Mamdani has also spoken out heavily against the Israel-Hamas war and Trump’s tactics to fight crime.
In early August, Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in an effort to decrease violent crime. Federal agents have recently joined operations for immigration enforcement efforts and have helped to conduct traffic stops.
Over the summer, the president also sent soldiers to Los Angeles in an effort to quell an outbreak of riots against mass deportation efforts led by his administration.
However, Khanna, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) protested the decision, declaring it as a measure to invoke fear in local citizens.
“And by the way, have you noticed St. Louis and Memphis, two of the highest crime areas? No talk there,” Khanna told CNN, citing two red states without threat of federal intervention.
The president has eyed Chicago and other urban cities to deploy federal forces to stifle soaring crime rates. But Khanna said there are other areas that deserve attention from the White House.
“I‘d rather he focus on the economy. I‘d rather he focus on Gaza and bringing peace. I‘d rather focus on Ukraine. But this country does not want militarizing the streets,” Khanna told CNN host Abby Phillip.
Amid the push to lower crime rates, the president has worked to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after promising to end violence overseas throughout the campaign trail.
However, his pledge has fallen flat as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to strike areas like Kyiv and resists interference from NATO and other European allies.
