Khanna Suggests Trump Should Consider Mayoral Run
California Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, hinted on Thursday that President Trump may have the wrong ambitions, suggesting he actually wants to run for mayor given his frequent involvement in local issues across the country.
“It seems like President Trump is really keen on being mayor. Maybe he should just go for that instead,” Khanna remarked during his appearance on CNN’s “Newsnight.”
He further mentioned Trump’s interest in running against Mamdani, advising that he should indeed aim for mayoral office.
Khanna’s comments coincided with reports indicating that Trump’s advisors had discussed potential job offers to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for Trump stepping back from the mayoral race against Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is likely to challenge former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Earlier in July, Trump accused Mamdani of implying that New Yorkers could have access to free childcare and government-operated grocery stores.
In a post on True Society referencing Mamdani, Trump stated, “As the President, I do not intend to compromise New York. I control all the important levers; we need to make New York City ‘hot’ and ‘great’ again, just like in the good old days!”
Mamdani has opposed both Trump’s crime-fighting strategies and his stance on the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
In August, Trump dispatched hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, to address escalating crime. Recently, federal agents were also deployed for immigration enforcement operations and traffic stops.
This summer, soldiers were sent to Los Angeles to respond to riots stemming from a significant deportation initiative by the Trump administration. However, Khanna, along with Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, criticized this move as an attempt to instill fear in the community.
“Did you notice that they haven’t sent help to the worst crime areas like St. Louis and Memphis?” Khanna pointed out during his CNN interview, referencing places that have not experienced federal intervention.
Trump has been eyeing cities like Chicago for federal support to tackle rising crime but Khanna believes the White House should focus on more pressing issues.
“I think we should prioritize the economy. His efforts should be on Gaza, peace initiatives, and Ukraine. This country isn’t looking to militarize our streets,” he told host Abby Philip.
With crime rates declining, the President is also aiming to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, after campaigning on a promise to end international violence. Yet, his commitments seem to falter as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues assaults on areas such as Kiev, resisting pressures from NATO and European allies.
