President Trump on Friday labeled left-wing Democrats surging to victory in New York’s congressional primaries “godless communists,” delivering a sharp broadside against the party’s socialist wing during an address at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s 2026 Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton.
“These are not social democrats. These are hardcore, godless communists. They’re godless communists. All communists are godless. They don’t believe in God. This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence. In my opinion, 250 years ago. This is a major threat to our country,” Mr. Trump said.
The remarks came just days before America’s Semiquincentennial on July 4, and one day after New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 to freeze rents on one- and two-year leases for roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments — the first time in the board’s history that two-year leases have been subject to a freeze. The vote fulfilled a signature campaign pledge of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, though the Rent Guidelines Board is an independent body of mayoral appointees that voted on its own authority.
Mr. Trump tied the rent freeze directly to the broader left-wing shift he argued is threatening American cities.
“For the first time in history, the powerful Rent Stabilization Board, as an example that sets rents in New York City, just happened today. They’ve done it for years and years, and they’ve been very far left,” he said.
He acknowledged Mr. Mamdani had telegraphed the policy, saying, “Mayor Mamdani, who came to the White House and seemed like a nice guy, but he said he was going to do this in his campaign.”
Mr. Trump warned the decision would lead to the city’s decline.
Tuesday’s primaries accelerated Mr. Trump’s concerns. All three congressional candidates endorsed by Mr. Mamdani — former city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez and community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier — swept their races, defeating incumbent Democrats in what Mr. Trump characterized as a harbinger of a broader socialist takeover of the party.
Ms. Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, 71, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who had represented the 13th Congressional District covering Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx since 2017. Ms. Valdez defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and City Council Member Julie Won in New York’s 7th Congressional District.
Mr. Trump framed the primary results as an inflection point for the Democratic Party, warning the trend would not be contained to New York.
“They hate our country, they hate our people, they hate the Democrat party. The Democrat party is in big trouble, because this isn’t stopping with New York,” he said, according to NBC News.
Speaking ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, the president argued the socialist surge was stealing focus from America’s founding achievements.
“Our most important birthday so far, 250 years and instead of speaking about Christ and instead of speaking about freedom and victories of all different kinds, we’re speaking about yet another threat to the foundations of America,” Mr. Trump said.
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