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Year: 2025

Obama calls NYC mayoral frontrunner Mamdani just days before crucial election

Obama calls NYC mayoral frontrunner Mamdani just days before crucial election

Three days ahead of the New York City mayoral election, former President Barack Obama called frontrunner Zohran Mamdani to offer his support. The 64-year-old Democrat offered to be a “sounding board” to Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who continues to lead the race in polling. “Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec told Fox News Digital. Mamdani’s main opponents are former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. CUOMO PICKS UP ENDORSEMENTS, RISES IN POLLS AS COMEBACK CAMPAIGN NEARS FINISH LINE Sliwa’s campaign told Fox News Digital they had no comment on the call. Cuomo lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary last summer. The phone call between Mamdani and Obama came the same day Obama was also campaigning in Virginia for Abigail Spanberger and in New Jersey for Mikie Sherrill. Both Democrats are in close gubernatorial races in their respective states.  OBAMA SAYS IT’S ‘LIKE EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN’ AS HE BLAMES REPUBLICANS FOR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Both women are Democratic gubernatorial candidates. “Your campaign has been impressive to watch,” Obama told Mamdani in the 30-minute private conversation, according to The New York Times who cited two people familiar with the conversation. Obama hasn’t endorsed Mamdani officially following a vow to not interfere in municipal races, the newspaper reported, adding that it was the second call between the two men since the Democratic primary. Obama spoke to Mamdani as some establishment Democrats, such as New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, have kept their distance from the progressive leader.

‘Progressive capitalist’ rallies for ‘democratic socialist’ candidate in NYC mayoral race

‘Progressive capitalist’ rallies for ‘democratic socialist’ candidate in NYC mayoral race

JAMAICA, QUEENS – Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is a “progressive capitalist,” but ahead of New York City’s highly-anticipated Election Day, the Silicon Valley congressman rallied for self-identified democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. As a broad coalition of Mamdani supporters gathered in Queens’ Major Mark Park on Saturday, a socialist and a capitalist – both of Indian descent – found common ground despite the Democratic Party’s looming identity crisis. “My vision is economic patriotism,” Khanna told Fox News Digital after the rally, explaining that he wants to “build a broad, FDR-Obama-like coalition” to overhaul the U.S. economy. “I think we need to be a broad tent.” Khanna said he is “probably one of the few” Democrats who has campaigned for the Democratic nominee in all three major races of this election cycle, also joining gubernatorial candidates Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., on the campaign trail in their states this year. ‘DEMOCRATS ARE NERVOUS’ ABOUT POTENTIAL ZOHRAN MAMDANI VICTORY, NEW REPORT WARNS “If you had asked me when I was growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that there would be an Indian-American of Hindu faith representing Silicon Valley introducing an African-born Indian of Muslim faith, who would be the next mayor of New York, I would have told you only in a Mira Nair film, but it’s happening,” Khanna told the crowd, referencing Mamdani’s filmmaker mother. CLINTON CAMPAIGN ALUM URGES JEFFRIES, SCHUMER NOT TO ‘TAKE THE BAIT,’ GET ‘BULLIED’ INTO MAMDANI ENDORSEMENT Among those rallying in Queens were coalitions of New Yorkers from Afghan, Muslim, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, along with local elected officials, including former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who lost his Democratic primary to a more moderate challenger last year. Speakers during Saturday’s rally and canvass launch condemned Islamophobia, after Mamdani last week criticized his competitors in the mayoral race, including Independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and Mayor Erics Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign and endorsed Cuomo for what he claims was “Islamophobic rhetoric.” Mamdani asked the New Yorkers gathered to raise their hands if they were ever called a terrorist, if employers “mangled” their names or they had been made to feel “less-than because of who you are.” “We are not just saying goodbye to a disgraced former governor on Tuesday, we are saying goodbye to the politics of that disgrace,” Mamdani said. But just moments prior, a protester disrupted Mamdani’s remarks, lambasting the leading mayoral candidate for his refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada” – which is widely considered a call to violence against Jews. Mamdani said he would discourage others from using the phrase but has been reluctant to denounce it. “You are a communist!” the protester shouted from the press pen as the crowd booed him while Mamdani continued speaking. “This is not Cuba! This is not Venezuela!” the protester, who was wearing a shirt with the Cuban flag, shouted. He was ultimately escorted out of the rally by police officers as he shouted, “F— you, Zohran!” President Donald Trump has labeled Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and “My little communist” – a moniker Mamdani has rejected. Mamdani’s ambitious campaign agenda includes fast and free buses, city-run grocery stores, and free childcare, which he plans to pay for by raising taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was heckled by Mamdani supporters to “Tax the rich” during last Sunday’s rally, has ruled out a tax hike, despite endorsing Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. After Saturday’s rally and canvass launch, Khanna told Fox News Digital that Hochul “should be taxing the billionaires.” “What’s wrong with having a tax on that wealth so that we can pay for childcare?” Khanna questioned, explaining that a 10% “trillionaire tax” – which he said Elon Musk is angling to be – could pay for universal childcare in the United States. “I don’t understand why she’s not for a basic wealth tax,” Khanna added. Mamdani’s mayoral campaign has exposed a divide within the Democratic Party, as New York Democrats were reluctant to endorse his democratic socialist agenda. After months of withholding his support, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally endorsed Mamdani last week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to endorse Mamdani with just days left in the race. As the Democratic Party grapples with losses up and down the ballot in 2024, a new report this week urged Democrats to moderate their positions. The report was released on the heels of the trio of self-identified democratic socialists – Mamdani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. – joining forces to rally more than 10,000 New York City voters at Forest Hills Stadium last Sunday. When asked about the value of building a coalition with Mamdani, despite Khanna rejecting socialism and calling himself a “progressive capitalist,” he told Fox News Digital that the real challenge is the “wealth divide.” “People can’t afford rent,” Khanna said. “People can’t afford childcare. SNAP is being cut. I represent more wealth than ever before, and I’m saying you can tax billionaires so people can have healthcare and education. We can have a vision of how we’re going to create high-paying jobs, not just here in Queens, but in rural America, in factory towns across this nation.” Fox News Digital’s Olivia Palombo contributed to this report. 

Trump threatens to halt all US aid, conduct ‘vicious’ military attack in Nigeria over Christian persecution

Trump threatens to halt all US aid, conduct ‘vicious’ military attack in Nigeria over Christian persecution

President Donald Trump on Saturday announced the U.S. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria if its government continues to allow the killing of Christians, and may even go into the country “guns-a-blazing” to “completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists” responsible. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” The post comes after the president on Friday designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing the widespread killings of Christians. I’M A CHRISTIAN FROM NIGER. DON’T IGNORE HORRIFYING ATTACKS ON AFRICAN CHRISTIANS “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted to Truth Social Friday. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’—But that is the least of it.” He said Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and members of the House Appropriations Committee were directed to look into the reports and present findings to him at a later date. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” Trump wrote. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!” WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO SURGE IN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION CRISIS ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA The persecution of Christians in Nigeria has reached crisis levels, as Islamist militants burn down villages, massacre worshipers and displace thousands across the north and central regions. Attackers in June invaded a bishop’s village days after he testified before Congress, killing more than twenty people. Other assaults in Plateau and Benue states have left hundreds dead, with survivors describing militants shouting “Allahu Akbar” as they burned churches and homes. International watchdog group Open Doors reported nearly 70% of Christians killed for their faith last year were in Nigeria. Groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Fulani militants are blamed for most attacks, often targeting Christian farmers. Rights groups estimate 4,000–8,000 Christian deaths annually. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital 50,000 Christians have been killed and 20,000 Christian schools and churches destroyed in the country since 2009, calling it “a crisis of religious genocide.” Mark Walker, Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, urged stronger U.S. pressure on Nigeria’s government, calling the violence a humanitarian crisis. He also pledged to work with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to strengthen U.S. advocacy. I WAS KIDNAPPED BY BOKO HARAM, AND SURVIVED. NO THANKS TO THE WEST’S SILENCE The White House and global leaders have condemned the violence, warning it could spread across Africa. However, Nigerian officials have denied systematic persecution, calling U.S. reports “misleading.” Hours before Trump’s threat Saturday, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu posted a statement on X, noting Nigeria “stands firmly” as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu wrote in the statement. “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians. Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.” “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” he continued. “Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths. Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.” Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.