Michael Rapaport has said that he intends to run for mayor of New York in 2029.

The actor, who is a virulent supporter of Israel, has made no secret of his intense dislike of Zohran Mamdani who was sworn in as mayor of New York City on New Year’s Day. Mamdani’s victory has been welcomed by many in the largest city in the US, who view it as a break from the status quo of the democratic party.

After interviewing Trump voters on the streets, Mamdani ran a successful campaign focussed on making New York City affordable, including policies aimed at managing rising rents and cost of groceries.

Trump’s ’embarrassing’ trans impression

But Rapaport has frequently gone out of his way to criticize New York City’s first Muslim mayor, and has now taken his opposition to the extent that he has announced that he intends to run against Mamdani in 2029.

Actor and comic Michael Rapaport (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

Beginning his I Am Rapaport podcast on Monday, the actor opened with a bizarre greeting, saying: “Welcome to the ziggy zone of disruption. My name is Michael Rapaport, a.k.a. Mayor Rapaport. Mr. Mayor Rapaport, a.k.a. The Gringo Mandingo, a.k.a. The Enflamed Ashkenazi, a.k.a. The Sultan of Sniff.”

Throughout the episode, the actor referred to himself as ‘Mayor Rapaport’, before making the big reveal at the end of the episode.

“Let me tell you something, guys, girls, women, children of all ages,” he began. “2025 was crazy, and I don’t see it getting any f*cking calmer or cooler in 2026, the way things started. That’s why I’m running for mayor.”

He added: “Born. Raised. NYC. Nothing’s free. No bullsh*t. No fake grins. I’ll own my mistakes, apologize when I screw up, and fight to make this city safe, affordable, and thriving.

“You got Zoron [sic] the Moron now… Mayor Rapaport is coming.”

In a tirade, the actor added: “He’s got a f*cking evil f*cking grin. And I think he’s up to no good.”

Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City (Amir Hamja-Pool/Getty Images)

Rapaport is not alone in criticizing Mamdani, with Debra Messing making extreme comments directed at Mamdani’s politics and his religion in which she called Mamdani ‘an actual communist jihadist’ and ‘a literal Karl Marx-quoting, America-hating jihadist’.

Mamdani has previously described himself as a ‘democratic socialist’ and was open about his Muslim faith throughout his campaign.

In his inaugural speech, Mamdani said: “I stand alongside over one million New Yorkers who voted for this day nearly two months ago, and I stand just as resolutely alongside those who did not.

“I know there are some who view this administration with distrust or disdain, or who see politics as permanently broken.

“And while only action can change minds, I promise you this: if you are a New Yorker, I am your Mayor.

“Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never, not for a second, hide from you.”Featured Image Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images/Spencer Platt/Getty Images

What time New York City Mayor will be announced after Trump’s ‘delusional’ comment about Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani is the favorite to win, according to opinion polls

New York City’s new mayor is expected to be unveiled today as thousands of voters are set to take to the polls.

The three candidates facing off are former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican Curtis Sliwa and Democrat Zohran Mamdani.

One of them will replace the current mayor, Democrat and former NYPD captain Eric Adams, who ended his re-election campaign back in September.

Opinion polls suggest Mamdani is the front-runner for the race, as per the BBC.

If elected, he would be New York’s first-ever Muslim mayor.

The youngest of the three main candidates at 34 years old, Mamdani describes himself as a ‘democratic socialist’.

Zohran Mamdani is the favorite to be elected as New York City’s mayor (Rob Kim/Getty Images)

His policies include increasing taxes on the city’s wealthiest, increasing publicly subsidized housing and freezing stabilized apartment rental rates.

What time will the New York City Mayor be announced?

Polls across New York’s five boroughs – the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island – are open between 6am and 9pm ET today (Tuesday November 4).

While there’s no specific deadline for the winner to be announced, it could be within minutes after the polls close this evening – especially if the last mayoral election is anything to go by.

In 2021, Adams was declared the winner around 10 minutes after polls closed, winning with roughly two-thirds of the vote.

So, chances are we’ll know the new mayor before the day is out.

What has Donald Trump said of the Mayoral race?

President Donald Trump has slammed Mamdani as a ‘communist’ in an interview with 60 Minutes’ Norah O’Donnell.

In the unusual exchange, which viewers branded delusional, Trump also brought his own appearance into the conversation.

As O’Donnell went to ask Trump about the upcoming election, saying: “Zohran Mamdani, 34 year old Democratic Socialist—,” Trump cut her off and interjected with: “Communist, not a socialist. He’s a communist. He’s far worse than a socialist.”

Donald Trump says he’ll stop funds to New York if Mamdani is elected mayor (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

O’Donnell continued her question, asking: “Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you; charismatic, breaking the old rules – what do you think about that?”

Without skipping a beat, Trump retorted: “Well I think I’m a much better-looking person than him, right?”

Trump has instead thrown his weight behind independent candidate Cuomo, who served as governor between 2011 and 2021, resigning after numerous sexual misconduct allegations, all of which he denies.

Trump discarded Republican candidate Sliwa, claiming a vote for him is ‘a vote for Mamdani’.

Trump has thrown his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

The president had previously threatened to send no more than ‘the very minimum’ level of federal funding to New York should Mamdani be elected.

And in a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “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.

“He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”

Cuomo hit back that Trump is not endorsing him, but opposing Mamdani.Featured Image Credit: Stephani Spindel/VIEWpress/Getty Images

Donald Trump makes shocking threat to deport New York mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani has responded to the POTUS’ threats against him

President Donald Trump has threatened to arrest and deport ‘communist’ New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after his strong stance against ICE was revealed.

It has been a controversial few months for Trump’s administration after the US’ missile strike on nuclear bases in Iran and the violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles came to light.

Trump also introduced his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, which caused a very public bust-up with former ‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk, with Trump even threatening to deport him.

There have also been several comments Trump made about deporting US citizens after opening an immigration centre dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’. But now, it seems he’s after people a little closer to his circle.

Zohran Mamdani, the new Democratic mayoral nominee for New York, recently retaliated against a threat made by the president, calling it an ‘attack on democracy.’

He stated: “If you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation.”

Donald Trump wants to arrest Zohran Mamdani (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, who has lived in the US for most of his life, was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda until he was seven-years-old before moving to New York City with his family.

However, he didn’t become naturalized as a US citizen until 2018.

He went on to represent the 36th Assembly District and was previously passionate against fighting for those who in underrepresented areas.

This is what led him to run for office, fuelled by his passion for changing the housing crisis and pro-corporate policies.

As of right now, he was the first South Asian man to serve in the NYS Assembly, the first Ugandan and the third Muslim to ever be a member of the body.

What has Trump said about Mamdani?

Speaking recently to press, Trump said he’d heard claims that Mamdani was ‘here illegally’, with him threatening to arrest him if he blocked immigration officers conducting on-street arrests in New York.

Trump said: “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything.”

When a journalist posed the question that Mamdani wouldn’t allow ICE to conduct their arrests, Trump replied: “Well then we’ll have to arrest him.”

He also called Mamdani a communist.

It might be unlikely (Joe Raedle/Getty Image)

Could Mamdani be deported?

Well, there are certain circumstances which would allow the deportation of a US citizen by naturalisation.

The process, called denaturalisation, allows the government to revoke a person’s citizenship. It can occur when a person commit terrorism, war crimes, or lying on their citizenship application.

On June 11, the Justice Department stated it would ‘prioritise denaturalisation; by instituting civil proceedings for people ‘if they either ‘illegally procured’ naturalization or procured naturalization by “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation”.’

The memo added: “The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”

The Justice Department announced on June 13 that UK citizen Elliott Duke, who was convicted of collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material, had been denaturalised.

But as for whether Mamdani could be deported, Michael Kagan, professor of law at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. said: “Denaturalisation is limited to cases where the government can prove material fraud in their original applications.” It is rare and unlikely for either Musk or Mamdani. This appears to be irresponsible rhetoric designed to intimidate political opponents.