President Trump said that the future New York City mayor must “behave” to get support from the federal government in his response to Zohran Mamdani’s win in the Democratic mayoral primary.

Trump was asked on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo about Mamdani and some of his policies, including fighting back against mass deportation efforts. The president, a longtime New York resident, wouldn’t say whom he would support in the New York mayoral race.

“I can tell you this — whoever is mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves or the federal government is going down very tough on them financially,” he said.

The president called Mamdani a “communist” and sent a warning about him potentially winning the general election in New York.

“He’s a communist. I think it’s very bad for New York. I don’t know that he’s going to get in. It’s inconceivable,” Trump said. “But let’s say this, if he does get in, I’m going to be president and he’s going to have to do the right thing. They’re not getting any money.”

Since Mamdani’s win in the Democratic primary, Republicans have sought to put Democrats on defense in House and Senate races ahead of 2026, using his far-left views and affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America as fodder.

Some Democrats facing competitive reelection bids have already moved to distance themselves from Mamdani, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stopped short of endorsing him.