In the fiercely competitive arena of American politics, it’s well known that opponents often engage in fierce verbal battles during campaigns.
Political discourse frequently involves sharp critiques and intense scrutiny of policies, and in the case of Donald Trump, instances of mudslinging are not uncommon.
However, the president’s recent remarks about potential New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani were unexpectedly personal, sparking criticism on social media where some have labeled his comments as ‘delusional.’
The incident occurred on a recent episode of 60 Minutes. During the broadcast, host Norah O’Donnell asked Trump about the upcoming NYC Mayoral election, scheduled for Tuesday, November 4.
“Zohran Mamdani, 34-year-old Democratic Socialist—,” O’Donnell began, only to be interrupted by Trump, who exclaimed: “Communist, not a socialist. He’s a communist. He’s far worse than a socialist.”
O’Donnell persisted, asking if some people’s comparisons of Mamdani to a left-wing version of Trump held any truth, describing Mamdani as charismatic and rule-breaking. Trump’s quick response was: “Well I think I’m a much better-looking person than him, right?”
This exchange left viewers puzzled, with many taking to social media to describe Trump as both ‘narcissistic’ and ‘delusional.’
“See, I know Trump is straight-up delusional. As a 78+ years old ‘man’ he actually thinks he looks better than Mamdani…a 35 year old man??” wrote one social media user.
Another user chimed in, calling Trump ‘self-absorbed.’
Despite the criticism, some users defended Trump’s remark as a joke, suggesting it was well-timed rather than serious.
“It is absolutely clear that he is joking and that was a very well-timed joke,” one user wrote. “You can hate the person, think he is incompetent and all that, but you’ve got to admit that he is objectively extremely funny and charismatic. Unless the left get this and adapt to this, we are never winning.
“Calling him delusional for a joke he made(whose point is clearly that Mamdani is very good looking and the joke is that he called himself a 70 year old man better than him), and getting worked up over it, for any center and right person, it only makes it look like the left is a bunch of joyless people who have 0 critical thinking skills.”
Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman, is seeking to make history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor in the upcoming election.
Originally from Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to the United States as a child and has been a New Yorker since the age of seven.
In New York City, Mamdani attended the Bronx High School of Science before earning a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies from Bowdoin College, Maine in 2014.
While at college, his interest in politics grew, leading to the establishment of the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. He has since advocated for numerous progressive causes throughout his campaign.
If elected, Mamdani would be NYC’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, continuing his advocacy for the city’s diverse communities.
In a bid to connect with a wide range of voters, Mamdani’s campaign has featured videos in multiple languages, including Urdu, Spanish, and Arabic, incorporating Bollywood and other culturally relevant elements.
A champion of the people, Mamdani’s state assembly profile states: “As life took its inevitable turns, with detours in film, rap, and writing – it was always organising that ensured that the events of our world would not lead him to despair, but to action.”
His platform includes initiatives such as free city-wide bus travel, universal childcare from six weeks to five years, as well as rent freezes and stricter regulations on negligent landlords.