New Yorkers will seek refuge in Miami after a self-described democratic socialist was elected mayor, the US president has said

New Yorkers will soon run away from their "communist" city, US President Donald Trump has remarked, following the election of progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani as mayor.

Trump told supporters in Miami on Wednesday that Democrats had "installed a communist" to lead the country's largest city and added that the so-called Sunshine State "will soon be the refuge for those fleeing communism in New York."

Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist and was elected on Tuesday, advocates affordable housing, public ownership of utilities, and wealth taxation. His platform has drawn criticism from moderates and Republicans alike, who accuse him of pushing "radical," "communist," and populist ideas, while supporters argue his proposals address New York's worsening housing crisis and inequality.

Trump's decision to make the remark in Miami appeared deliberate. The city has long been home to large Cuban and Venezuelan communities, which helped shape its reputation as a haven for those escaping socialist and communist countries.

Popular opinion in the US has long viewed the ideology as a threat to democracy and free markets. Washington has pursued a global strategy of containment, intervening in conflicts such as Korea and Vietnam, supporting anti-communist regimes, and engaging in a Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Analysts note that Trump often uses the term as a rhetorical weapon to discredit opponents rather than as a literal label. During the 2024 presidential election campaign, he described a proposal by his Democratic rival Kamala Harris for grocery price controls as "full Communist."