Zohran Mamdani vs Donald Trump: How will New York City be governed now?

Zohran Mamdani’s election as the next mayor of New York City comes when the city continues to confront economic strains and housing.

At 34, Mamdani is set to take charge of the country’s most populous city, overseeing one of the world’s largest municipal budgets and public bureaucracies, just as a second-term Donald Trump administration occupies the White House.

The result sets up a high-stakes confrontation: a mayor whose platform centres on social welfare and affordability measures beginning his term in direct opposition to a president whose political identity has long been connected to New York.

Mamdani made his stance unmistakably clear during his election-night remarks.

Addressing supporters shortly after winning on Tuesday night, he said, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!”

This message was directed not only at the US president but also at the wider national political environment as Democrats gained control in several key races during the same electoral cycle.

How has Mamdani come into conflict with Trump?

Mamdani’s campaign frequently focused on the need to resist and challenge federal actions he argued would harm vulnerable residents.

He identified immigration enforcement as a key area where he expected friction with the Trump administration. He also framed his victory as part of a larger national effort to counter policies he described as unjust.

During his wining speech, Mamdani said, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one.”

Trump, for his part, has responded directly to Mamdani’s political positions. Before the election, he warned that New York City could lose federal funding if Mamdani won.

He told CBS News, “If you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”

Mamdani has acknowledged the difficulty this divide will bring, on election night, by saying his proposals amount to “the most ambitious agenda to tackle the cost-of-living crisis this city has seen” since the mid-20th century.

He added, “So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us you will have to go through all of us.”

What powers does the NYC mayor wield?

Even with expected challenges ahead, the office Mamdani is about to assume is one of the most powerful municipal positions in the world. The mayor of New York City oversees the functioning of the municipal government, which affects millions of residents, commuters, and visitors.

The city employs more than 300,000 public workers, including teachers, law enforcement personnel, sanitation workers, transit employees, and emergency responders.

The city’s economy, with an estimated output of around $1.3 trillion, is larger than that of several entire nations.

JC Polanco, a political expert and professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, summarised the significance of the role. He noted that “The mayor of New York City has enormous powers,” and pointed to the size of the workforce, budget, and economic influence under the administration’s control.

He told CBS News, “As of January, whoever that new mayor is becomes an international superstar.”

However, while the office carries wide administrative and symbolic influence, it is constrained by legal frameworks and state-level oversight. For example, although the mayor develops and proposes the city’s budget, any changes to tax rates require legislation passed in Albany.

This means that although Mamdani has discussed the need to increase taxes on the wealthy to fund expanded public programmes, such policies cannot be implemented solely from City Hall.

State Senate and Assembly approval, along with the governor’s support, is necessary.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other Democratic leaders have endorsed Mamdani, which potentially gives him leverage as he attempts to persuade state lawmakers to adopt elements of his economic agenda.

Yet historically, tax changes become more politically difficult during election cycles, and there are longstanding debates in New York about whether tax increases contribute to the departure of higher-income residents.

Polanco noted the political risk involved, saying that if taxes were to increase significantly, “the New Yorkers that are most mobile, that can easily leave, will leave.”

He also pointed out that despite the risk, a popular mayor can exert considerable influence over lawmakers whose electoral prospects depend on voter support in districts that may approve of the mayor’s priorities.

How will Mamdani deliver on his affordable housing promise?

Housing affordability emerged as one of the most defining issues of the mayoral campaign. Mamdani pledged to institute a freeze on rent-stabilised apartment rents for the duration of his term.

While the mayor does not personally set rent levels, he appoints all nine members of the Rent Guidelines Board, which reviews data each year to determine rent levels for stabilized apartments.

That board, however, must follow legal requirements. Members cannot enact an across-the-board freeze without examining market indicators, including building maintenance costs and shifts in operating expenses.

These factors must be analysed and documented before decisions are made.

This means that while Mamdani will choose individuals likely to support affordability measures, the rent freeze remains contingent on the economic data at the time of the vote.

In earlier city administrations, the board has issued both increases and freezes depending on economic conditions.

For example, when the board recently voted for increases of 3 per cent for one-year leases and 4.5 per cent for two-year leases, NYC mayor Eric Adams publicly expressed dissatisfaction, but was unable to change the outcome.

During the mayoral campaign, Andrew Cuomo criticised the idea of a full-term rent freeze, arguing that costs associated with building maintenance and operations must also be taken into account.

He suggested expanding access to rent-stabilised apartments for lower-income households rather than instituting a universal freeze.

Mamdani’s administration will therefore need to navigate the statutory review process and budgetary factors that influence how policies around rent can be implemented in a legally sustainable way.

How will Mamdani deliver free transportation and food access?

Mamdani also proposed offering free bus service citywide and introducing city-run grocery stores. Both proposals are aimed at lowering the cost of living, improving daily mobility, and addressing food access issues.

However, each proposal crosses into areas influenced by the state-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or by local market dynamics.

The MTA manages the city’s buses, subways, and major transit operations. Because it is overseen by the state, the mayor does not have unilateral authority to eliminate bus fares.

Polanco said that implementing free bus service would require cooperation from state officials who appoint board members to the MTA. Without that alignment, changes to fare structures are not feasible.

The MTA also faces financial constraints linked to operating costs, budget deficits, and planned capital investments. Recently, congestion pricing was enacted as part of a broader funding plan for the transit agency.

In this context, MTA chairman and CEO Janno Lieber addressed the idea of universal free bus service by saying “I want to make sure that people of limited income get priority in this discussion,” suggesting targeted programmes may be discussed sooner than citywide fare elimination.

A similar challenge applies to the concept of city-run grocery stores. While such stores could theoretically be piloted in targeted areas after securing City Council approval, elected officials would need to weigh the effects on privately owned supermarkets, bodegas, and corner stores already operating within their districts.

Polanco noted that councilmembers would need to consider how publicly run grocery options could directly compete with existing small businesses.

For that reason, he assessed that widespread rollout of such stores is unlikely without significant council backing, which would be difficult to secure on a large scale.

How will Mamdani coordinate with City Council?

The mayor plays an important role in shaping the city’s legal and policy environment, but does not independently write laws.

Legislation must originate in the City Council.

The mayor can sign or veto laws passed by the Council, but any mayoral veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote. This structure establishes a collaborative and sometimes adversarial relationship between the executive branch and the legislative body.

There are recent examples illustrating the limits of mayoral veto power. Under Adams, vetoes on bills relating to street vending and delivery worker wages were overridden.

Another veto relating to police reporting requirements was also overturned. These instances show that the City Council can act independently from the mayor when there is strong legislative support behind specific policy initiatives.

The mayor also appoints agency commissioners, board members, and judges to various municipal courts.

Appointments to agencies involving housing, policing, cultural institutions, infrastructure, economic development, and small business administration allow the mayor considerable ability to shape personnel decisions and administrative priorities.

These roles influence how the city approaches development, enforcement, public services, and long-term planning.

With inputs from agencies