Democratic socialism explained as Donald Trump calls Zohran Mamdani a 'communist'
It's been nearly a week now since Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York's mayor after beating Democrat former governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Last Tuesday (4 November), the 34-year-old made history after becoming the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa. He's also the first Millennial to take up the role.
Now, Mamdani is set to become the city’s most liberal mayor in generations - something that United States President Donald Trump doesn't seem too happy about.
Additionally, many other members of the Trump administration, fellow Republicans and MAGA heads online shared such sentiments, with many pointing to Mamdani's alleged 'communist' beliefs - claims which are totally baseless and the NYC mayor has refuted on several occasions now.
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What has Trump said?
Prior to Mamdani's win, Trump had previously threatened to withhold funding from the city if he were to be elected.
Writing on Truth Social at the time, the 79-year-old Republican said: "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.
"He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfil all of his FAKE Communist promises.
"He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him? This ideology has failed, always, for thousands of years. It will fail again, and that’s guaranteed!"
As we say, Trump has echoed such claims for months now, stating back in June that Mamdani was 'a 100% Communist Lunatic'.
Mamdani has previously told NBC News that no, he is not a communist, despite Trump and his supporters' repeated claims.
What has Mamdani said?
In his victory speech last week, Mamdani - who has called for making transportation, housing and groceries more affordable - declared to a roaring crowd: "The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate.
"I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this."
Then, turning his attention to Trump head-on, Mamdani proudly beamed: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.
"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.
"This is not only how we stop Trump. It's how we stop the next one. So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: 'Turn the volume up'."
Additionally, experts have outlined that he hasn’t adopted key tenets of communism, such as government takeover of industry and private property.
"Mamdani is NOT a communist," wrote Anna Grzymala-Busse, Stanford University professor of international studies, in an email to PolitiFact.
"Communism involves a centrally planned economy, with no market forces. Prices and quantities are set by a central government authority. There is no democratic political competition, and instead a single party rules the country. He is not calling for any of this."
Some Republicans often use the misleading claim that Democrats are communists or sympathisers of communism as a political attack.
This 'red scare' tactic has long been a feature of US politics but has been revived in recent years, partly due to the growing visibility and success of democratic socialists such as Senator Bernie Sanders.
What is a democratic socialist?
Back in June, Mamdani explained to CNN what democratic socialism actually is.
"I think ultimately, the definition for me of why I call myself a democratic socialist is the words of Dr [Martin Luther] King decades ago. He said, call it democracy or call it democratic socialism. There must be a better distribution of wealth for all of god’s children in this country," he said.
"And that’s what I’m focused on, is dignity and taking on income inequality. And for too long, politicians have pretended that we’re spectators to that crisis of affordability. We’re actually actors, and we have the choice to exacerbate it, like Mayor Adams has done, or to respond to it and resolve it like I’m planning to do."
What’s the difference between democratic socialism and communism?
Communism, as outlined in Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx's seminal 1848 text, The Communist Manifesto, envisions a class struggle in which private property and the means of production are collectively owned for the public good.
Democratic socialism, by contrast, rejects the idea of class warfare and seeks to achieve socialist objectives through democratic and electoral processes.
What are Mamdani’s democratic socialist policy ideas?
Mamdani’s major policy proposals centre on making life more affordable for working New Yorkers. Regarding housing, he wants to implement a rent freeze for one million residents living in rent-controlled apartments.
As for transportation, Mamdani is keen to provide subsidies to make New York City buses free for all riders, as well as offering free childcare to all New Yorkers.
And as for groceries, he has discussed launching a pilot program to establish one city-run grocery store in each borough to test whether removing the profit motive can lower food prices.
In addition, Mamdani supports raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and large corporations, though such measures would require approval from the state legislature.
Topics: Politics, Explained, Donald Trump, US News, News, Zohran Mamdani
Rhiannon Ingle