Sir Sadiq Khan has expressed satisfaction over a significant setback for Donald Trump as Democrat Zohran Mamdani emerges victorious as the new mayor of New York City.
President Trump had endorsed Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who was defeated, and criticized Mamdani, labeling him a “communist” and threatening to withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani won.
However, Mamdani has emerged victorious, defeating Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become the city’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian descent.
Sir Sadiq congratulated Mamdani, who will be inaugurated as New York’s youngest mayor in over a century on January 1, praising his “historic campaign.”
In a message, Sir Sadiq highlighted that New Yorkers had a clear choice between hope and fear, with hope prevailing, similar to the situation in London.
Sir Sadiq’s support for Mamdani follows a longstanding feud between the London mayor and Trump, with Trump making derogatory remarks about Sadiq since 2015.
In his victory speech, Mamdani took a dig at Trump, urging him to “turn the volume up” to hear the resounding cheers from his supporters.
Mamdani reaffirmed New York’s status as a city of immigrants, emphasizing that it will continue to be a city nurtured and led by immigrants, setting an example in the face of Trump’s policies.
The city’s Board of Elections reported record voter turnout, with over two million ballots cast, marking the largest participation in more than 50 years.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, when asked about Mamdani’s win, mentioned that she does not closely follow American politics.
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