Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) directed their ire at President Trump on Sunday evening as they rallied in support of their progressive ally in New York City, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani.
The high-profile figures addressed a large crowd of Mamdani supporters at a rally in Queens, where they both directly named Trump and suggested a hypothetical Mamdani victory would have implications beyond just New York.
“The election of Zohran is as important as our cause today,” Ocasio-Cortez said at the rally. “Child care, buses, rent and our rights, here in New York City — it is the jewel and the center of all that is possible in America.”
“And on November 4,” she said, “we will prove it to the world, and we will prove it to the nation, and we will send a loud message to President Donald Trump that his authoritarianism is no good here.”
The progressive congresswoman touched on the broader implications of the election and addressed Trump directly.
“This is America, New York City. Don’t let them tell you any different. Don’t let them tell you that we are the exception. We are the rule. We are the standard. We are the acceptance, and we set the bar for America,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I’m talking to you, Donald Trump.”
Sanders introduced the young democratic socialist, who is favored to win the general election in New York City next week, and said people throughout the world would be inspired if Mamdani is elected to lead the largest city in the country.
“At a moment when Americans are extremely distressed about where we are as a nation, economically and politically, a victory here in New York will give hope and inspiration to people throughout our country and throughout the world,” Sanders said.
“That is what this election is about, and that is why Donald Trump is paying attention to this election. Ordinary people, working class people, Black and white and Latino, Asian, gay and straight, coming together to take on the oligarchy that is Trump’s worst nightmare,” he continued.
“Brothers and sisters, with your help, over the next eight days, this young man is going to make American history,” he added.
Mamdani and Trump have clashed at various points throughout the general election campaign. Late last month, the president warned that Mamdani, if elected mayor, “is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great city.”
“Self proclaimed New York City Communist, Zohran Mamdani, who is running for Mayor, will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party,” Trump said on Truth Social last month.
“Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his fake communist promises. He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him?”
