New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani refused to credit President Donald Trump for the recent Gaza ceasefire, saying he believes it’s “too early” to do so.
Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral candidate, released a statement on the day of the ceasefire that did not mention Trump and called for an enduring peace. The socialist sat down for his first interview with Fox News on Wednesday.
“I think it’s too early to do so,” Mamdani said when asked if he is giving credit to Trump for the ceasefire. “If it proves to be something that is lasting, something that is durable. And I think that that’s where you give credit.”
Before denying Trump credit, Mamdani noted that he hopes that the ceasefire “will actually endure and that it will be lasting,” but cited reports “in the last few days that five Palestinians were killed by the Israeli military.”
“And that’s what gives me pause about issuing any kind of praise or celebration at a moment when it is still so in its infancy,” he added before being pressed on whether he should praise Trump.
Trump helped broker the ceasefire last week, drawing praise from even high-profile Democrats such as former Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton. Hamas released the living hostages to Israel, while Israel gave back a number of Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire is still working through kinks, as Hamas has refused to disarm despite the terms of the deal.
Mamdani is running for mayor of New York City against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent and Republican, Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani is favored to win in the race but will face off against the other two candidates in a debate Thursday.
While the socialist has compromised on some of his positions, the Israel-Palestine conflict is among some of his most unwavering stances. In the interview, he also declined to say whether Hamas should lay down its arms as part of the ceasefire agreement.
“I believe that any future here in New York City is one that we have to make sure that’s affordable for all, and as it pertains to Israel and Palestine, that we have to ensure that there is peace, and that is the future that we have to fight for,” he said.
When pressed again, Mamdani said he doesn’t “really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel, beyond the question of justice and safety and the fact that anything has to abide by international law.”
He also said that while he would like to abide by the International Criminal Court’s criminal warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he would not make a new law to do so.
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The socialist also took the time to address Trump directly and attack Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in the process. He also hinted that he is willing to collaborate with Trump, but just on affordability.
“I will not be a mayor like Mayor Adams, who will call you to figure out how to stay out of jail. I won’t be a disgraced governor like Andrew Cuomo, who will call you to ask how to win this election. I can do those things on my own. I will, however, be a mayor who is ready to speak at any time to lower the cost of living,” Mamdani concluded.
