Became citizen in 2018
He arrived in the U.S. from Uganda in 1998, when he was just seven years old. After living for years as a lawful permanent resident, he became a U.S. citizen in 2018 – a step that allowed him to eventually run for office.
Now, as the assemblyman prepares to take the reins of City Hall, Mamdani’s historic win has sparked intense backlash – not just from critics, but from some of the most powerful voices in conservative politics, including President Donald Trump.
ICE, threats, and retaliation
The attacks on Mamdani had already started months before Election Day.
During his primary victory speech in June 2025, Mamdani pledged to “stop masked ICE agents from deporting our neighbors.”
The bold promise quickly drew national attention – and a sharp response from Trump, who according to ABC News, said, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”
The POTUS – who at the time called the mayor-elect a “nut job” – also echoed baseless claims that Mamdani is in the country unlawfully.
“A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally,” Trump said. “We’re going to look at everything. Ideally, he’s going to turn out to be much less than a communist. But right now, he’s a communist. That’s not a socialist.”Continue reading…
