President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic nominee for mayor, that if he fails to “behave himself” upon a hypothetical win in the general election, the city could lose federal funding.

During an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump expressed concerns about Mamdani, the socialist candidate for mayor who recently clinched an upset primary win against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani has espoused a host of Marxist-inspired views at odds with traditionalists in his party, including saying the country “shouldn’t have billionaires,” calling for higher taxes on “whiter neighborhoods,” and defending the term “globalize the intifada,” which calls for violence against the Jews.

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“He’s a communist,” Trump said of Mamdani, who denied the characterization during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on the same day.

Trump said he hopes Mamdani will be unsuccessful in November, calling his victory “inconceivable.” If Mamdani does win, Trump added, New York City will not be “getting any money” unless the mayoral candidate does “the right thing.”

Mamdani has signaled that, unlike incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams, he will not cooperate with the Trump administration as mayor, particularly on immigration enforcement.

“I think it’s very bad for New York. I don’t know that he’s gonna get in. It’s inconceivable … but he’s a Communist, and he’s pure Communist,” Trump said. “I can’t imagine it, but let’s say this: If he does get in, I’m gonna be president, then he’s going to have to do the right thing, but they’re not getting any money. He’s got to do the right thing.”

“I can tell you this,” Trump added. “Whoever’s mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves, or the federal government is coming down very tough on them financially.”

During his Sunday interview, Mamdani stood by several controversial views, including refusing to say he will adjust language calling for higher taxes on “richer and whiter neighborhoods,” which he called an accurate reflection of “what we see right now.” 

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And in response to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s (D-NY) refusal to endorse him until he clarified his stance on certain matters, including the phrase “globalize the intifada,” Mamdani said he “doesn’t believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech.” 

Mamdani will face Adams, a Democrat running for reelection as an independent, as his primary competition in the general election. Despite his bruising primary loss, Cuomo has also refused to rule out making a bid as an independent, which could split the moderate vote and help Mamdani pull off a win.