House Republican Wants Zohran Mamdani Deported

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    Who Is Zohran Mamdani? Trump's 'Worst Nightmare' Running for NYC Mayor

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    Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee has called for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to be denaturalized and deported.

    Why It Matters

    Mamdani, 33, is a democratic socialist and New York state assemblyman who was born in Uganda to Indian parents. He's lived in New York City since he was 7 years old and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

    On Tuesday evening, Mamdani set off a political earthquake in New York when he toppled former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city's Democratic mayoral primary, putting Mamdani on track to win the party's nomination.

    The race has not yet been called, but Cuomo conceded to Mamdani less than two hours after polls closed, and the final result is expected to be announced on July 1.

    Ogles and Mamdani
    Representative Andy Ogles, left, arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, while New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, right, attends the Freeze The Rent rally at Riverside Church in Manhattan on May 15. Associated Press

    What To Know

    Mamdani has been targeted with a rash of racist and Islamophobic attacks from high-profile Republicans and MAGA influencers since overtaking Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

    On Thursday, Ogles called Mamdani "little muhammad" in a post to X, formerly Twitter, adding that the mayoral hopeful "is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York."

    "He needs to be DEPORTED," Ogles said, adding: "Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings."

    The Tennessee lawmaker attached photos of a letter he sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether Mamdani should be denaturalized "on the grounds that he may have procured U.S. citizenship through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism."

    Newsweek reached out to Mamdani's campaign and to the White House for comment via email on Thursday.

    Ogles' and most Republicans have repeatedly conflated Mamdani's criticism of the Israeli government's military actions in the Gaza Strip with support for Hamas.

    The 33-year-old state assemblyman also got blowback from Cuomo over Israel during the Democratic mayoral primary debate earlier this month, when candidates were asked which foreign country they would visit first as mayor.

    Cuomo said he would visit Israel, while Mamdani said he would stay in New York City, adding: "My plans are to address New Yorkers across the five boroughs."

    "His answer was no, he won't visit Israel. That's what he was trying to say," Cuomo said after some back and forth between Mamdani and the moderators. Mamdani said during the debate and in public comments that Israel "has the right to exist" as "a state with equal rights" but that his priority as mayor would be addressing the needs of the city.

    Meanwhile, Republicans, including President Donald Trump and White House officials, have framed Mamdani's stunning upset in New York City as evidence of uncontrolled migration, aligning with the broader White House strategy of keeping border policy at the center of the national conversation.

    "NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration," Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and arguably the most hard-line, anti-immigrant figure in the Trump administration, wrote on X after the Democratic primary.

    "Zohran Mamdani hasn't even been a U.S. citizen for 10 years," far-right pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer wrote on X. "He is literally supported by terrorists. NYC is about to see 9/11 2.0."

    Ogles' letter to Bondi came one day after the New York Young Republicans Club, which consists of Republicans in Manhattan aged 18 to 40, similarly called on the Trump administration to revoke Mamdani's citizenship.

    "A CALL TO ACTION FROM THE NYYRC," the organization said in an X post. "The radical Zohran Mamdani cannot be allowed to destroy our beloved city of New York. The Communist Control Act lets President Trump revoke @ZohranKMamdani's citizenship and promptly deport him."

    NYYRC tagged Miller and Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, in the post, writing, "The time for action is now —@StephenM and@RealTomHoman, New York is counting on you."

    In addition to elected Republicans and GOP-aligned groups, Mamdani's victory has rattled high-profile businessmen including hedge fund managers Bill Ackman and Daniel Loeb and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin.

    The New York Times reported that Loeb and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who's running as an independent in this year's mayoral race, met with top business leaders on Wednesday night to discuss how to stop Mamdani's rise.

    What People Are Saying

    Mamdani addressed some of the attacks against him during his victory speech on Tuesday, telling supporters: "This has been a historically contentious race. One that has filled our airwaves with millions in smears and slander."

    He added: "I hope, I hope now that this primary has come to an end, I can introduce myself once more. Not as you've seen me in a 30-second ad or in a mailer in your mailbox, but as how I will lead as your mayor."

    Trump ripped Mamdani after his shocking upset in the mayoral primary, writing on Truth Social: "It's finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor."

    He added: "We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he's not very smart, he's got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him. Yes, this is a big moment in the History of our Country!"

    By "AOC+3," the president was referring to New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mamdani, and the three other members of the "Squad": Representatives Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.

    Ocasio-Cortez celebrated Mamdani's victory on Tuesday, writing on X:"Congratulations, @ZohranKMamdani! Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city. Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won."

    What Happens Next

    Cuomo conceded to Mamdani and bowed out of the Democratic primary on Tuesday but has still secured an independent line on the mayoral ballot. He told CBS News on Wednesday that he was considering staying in the race and on Thursday evening, CNN cited sources who said the former governor plans to remain on the ballot as an independent.

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    About the writer

    Sonam Sheth is an Evening Politics Editor at Newsweek who is based in New York. She joined Newsweek in 2024 and previously worked at Business Insider and CNBC. Sonam has extensive experience covering national security, foreign policy, elections, and stories at the intersection of law and politics. Her work has been cited in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and others. She has also frequently appeared on national television and radio, including MSNBC, NBC News, BBC World News, BBC News radio, and more. You can get in touch with Sonam at s.sheth@newsweek.com. Languages: English, Hindi, and French.

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    Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed daily publications in North and South Carolina. As an executive editor, Gabe led award-winning coverage of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof's capture in 2015, along with coverage of the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. You can get in touch with Gabe by emailing g.whisnant@newsweek.com. Find him on Twitter @GabeWhisnant.


    Sonam Sheth is an Evening Politics Editor at Newsweek who is based in New York. She joined Newsweek in 2024 ... Read more