An apparent feud has erupted between rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent and New York mayoral candidate and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani over taxes, politics, and a warning from Fiddy that’s gone viral: “I’m telling Trump.”
The drama began after Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, beating Andrew Cuomo. Shortly after the primary, 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) took to Instagram with a sharp response to Mamdani’s progressive tax stance, writing: “Where did he come from 
whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan no. I will give him $258,750 and a first class one way ticket away from NY. I’m telling Trump what he said too!”
Mamdani: “If 50 Cent is listening, he’s not going to be happy about this”
The post was a reaction to Mamdani’s recent appearance on The Breakfast Club radio show, where he directly addressed high-profile critics of his proposed tax hikes, like 50 Cent: Mamdani said, “I know if 50 Cent is listening, he’s not going to be happy about this.”
He added, “He tends to not like this tax policy, but I want to be very clear this is about $20,000 a year. It’s a rounding error. And all of these things together, they make every New Yorker’s life better, including those who are actually getting taxed now.”
Mamdani’s tax policy, in brief
Mamdani supports increasing taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers—particularly those earning over $1 million a year—to fund expanded public services such as housing, transit, and healthcare. The proposal is a hallmark of the growing democratic socialist movement, but it has stirred resistance from high earners, like 50 Cent, who have threatened to flee New York in protest.
Is 50 Cent MAGA?
50 Cent making sure Donald Trump doesn't pardon Diddy. pic.twitter.com/4MPQbcNW1a
— DME(@dme_363) June 3, 2025
50 Cent’s “I’m telling Trump” line stirred plenty of online speculation, with many questioning whether it was satire or a genuine political signal. It’s not the first time the rapper has aligned himself—however briefly—with Donald Trump. Back in 2020, he publicly criticized Joe Biden’s tax plan and expressed a preference for Trump’s lower-tax platform. Reportedly, 50 Cent did, however, turn down Trump’s offer to perform at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
The connection resurfaced when 50 Cent criticized Trump for refusing to say he would never pardon fellow music mogul Diddy. In another Instagram post, Jackson wrote, “He said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not ok. I’m gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
The back-and-forth between Mamdani and 50 Cent is more than a celebrity squabble—it’s a reflection of a larger debate unfolding in New York and across the country. As progressives push for wealth redistribution, critics argue the policies will drive out job creators and investors. For Mamdani, it’s about fairness. For 50 Cent, it’s about survival in what he sees as an increasingly hostile tax climate.
As for “telling Trump”? Whether it’s political theater or serious intent, the beef underscores the rising tension between celebrity capitalism and grassroots socialism in America’s biggest city.
