White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has criticized New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani following his comments that seemed to connect President Donald Trump to threats of bombings on Election Day. As voters make their way to the polls in New York City and across the nation, Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, made remarks suggesting Trump’s involvement in threats targeting polling stations.

While out on the campaign trail, Mamdani was questioned about bomb threats reported at several polling locations in New Jersey. His response took an unexpected turn, as he appeared to place responsibility on the president.

“It’s incredibly concerning,” Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, remarked. “I think this is an illustration of the attacks we’re seeing on our democracy.”

He went on to elaborate, “We have to understand this as part of the general approach the Trump administration has taken, aiming to intimidate voters through baseless claims of voter fraud, which ultimately seeks to suppress the voice of Americans across this country.”

‘We have to understand this as part of the general approach the Trump administration has taken to trying to intimidate voters with baseless allegations of voter fraud as a means of trying to repress the voice of Americans across this country,’ he continued.

When pressed by reporters about Mamdani placing the bomb threat blame, at least in part, on Trump, Leavitt condemned the remarks as ‘completely irresponsible.’ 

‘I think this is just another example of how the Democrat Party unfortunately stands for nothing. All they stand against is President Donald Trump.’

The 28-year-old press secretary continued: ‘It’s quite sad to see that we have someone at the top of the ticket on an election day today saying such things about the president when he obviously had absolutely nothing to do with those threats.’  

Mamdani appeared to blame President Donald Trump in part of bomb threats at several New Jersey voting locations 

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s comments as ‘irresponsible’ at Tuesday’s White House briefing 

President Donald Trump urged voters to back former New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo instead of Mamdani, who he has called a ‘communist’ 

Several polling precincts in northern New Jersey were closed Tuesday due to credible threats, according to local authorities. 

‘Law enforcement responded to threats that were received by email,’ in seven different counties, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin wrote in a statement on X. 

Some of the locations were quickly cleared and reopened, according to authorities. 

Trump, meanwhile, has spent the day launching salvos at Mamdani and other Democratic candidates on his Truth Social app. 

‘Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!’ the 79-year-old Republican president wrote on social media. 

The president has recommended that New York City voters back former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the race.

‘Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job,’ Trump wrote on Tuesday. 

The ex-governor resigned in disgrace in 2022 after being accused of sexual harassment. Cuomo has also been dogged by his terrible decision to mix COVID-positive patients in New York nursing homes during the pandemic. 

Independent candidate for New York City mayor and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo leaves after voting in the New York City mayoral election

New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji cast their vote in the general election at Frank Sinatra High School on November 4, 2025, in New York City

Both instances have led to him trailing in the polls by double digits. 

Still, if Mamdani does win, which it seems likely, Trump is threatening to pull federal funds from the city. 

‘If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!’