Featured Image Credit: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Barack Obama, Politics, US News, Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Barack Obama, Politics, US News, Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani
Aside from his wife, it seems that no one is more pleased for Zohran Mamdani following this week's electoral victory than former president Barack Obama.
And in his message congratulating New York's newly-elected mayor - the first Muslim, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa, to assume the powerful position - Obama seemingly couldn't help but simultaneously throw shade at Mamdani's biggest hater, Donald Trump.
For those in need of a reminder, Mamdani, 34, knocked back opponents, former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, on Tuesday (5 Nov) with a 50.4 percent vote.
A democratic socialist, the politician will become the city's most liberal mayor in generations - so naturally, the Republican president isn't his biggest fan.
Advert
After all, one of Mamdani's most central planned policies will see wealthy groups taxed, challenging the economic narrative set by Trump and his billionaire buddies.
Another will also see further support given from Mamdani's government to the city's sanctuary laws, as well as plans to expand legal representation for immigrants in detention, and the implementation of stronger protections for immigrant communities - all of which are sore spots for the Republican frontman under his increasingly right-wing regime.
As we say, however, one individual in full support of Mamdani's plans for the 'Big Apple', is Trump's presidential predecessor, Obama.
The 64-year-old gatecrashed the live recording of a podcast on Thursday, where he gave a special shoutout to the new mayor, all the while calling out 'entrenching power' taking hold in Washington D.C,.
"We had a good night on Tuesday," Obama told the Pod Save America audience, also referencing key gubernatorial wins for Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill the same day. "It was a good reminder that the American people are paying attention."
Whilst opting not to name 79-year-old Trump's specifically, Obama went on to say: "They don’t want cruelty. They are not looking for people on the top trying to entrench themselves in power."
He continued: "Our job is to say that we want everybody engaged and we want to have a conversation about how to make sure that every person in this country is treated with dignity and respect.
"We recognise we have differences. Yes, there are fights that are going to be fought, but deep down there is something core in us that we have in common that is extraordinary."