New York Attorney General Letitia James came out swinging Monday night in a fiery rally speech where she endorsed 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City, while also slamming President Donald Trump for what she called a campaign of political retribution.
Speaking before an energetic crowd in Washington Heights, James called Mamdani a “courageous” leader ready to “fight for a better future” and stand up to Trump’s attacks.
“He, like me, knows what it’s like to be attacked — to be called names, to be threatened, to be harassed,” James said passionately. “Each and every day, he wakes up with this fire in his belly, because he wants to build a better New York.”
Her comments came as she faces her own legal troubles. Federal prosecutors have charged her with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, which she has denounced as “baseless” and politically motivated. James, who made history as New York’s first Black and first female attorney general, famously led the civil fraud case against Trump — one that cost him hundreds of millions in penalties.
“You see, I know what it feels like to be attacked for just doing your job. But I also know what it feels like to overcome adversity,” James told the cheering crowd. “And so I stand on solid rock, and I will not bow. I will not break. I will not bend. I will not capitulate. I will not give in. I will not give up.”
As the audience roared, she added, “You come for me, you gotta come for all of us! Every single one of us!”
James accused Trump of trying to “weaponize justice for political gain” and “fray our democracy,” urging New Yorkers to “defend our rights” and “protect every immigrant, every institution, every rule of law.”
Mamdani, who has surged ahead in polls since winning the Democratic primary in June, spoke after James and painted a dark picture of Trump’s America. He called the Trump administration a “totalitarian force” that is “snatching our immigrant neighbors from our city in broad daylight” and waging a “scorched earth campaign” against vulnerable communities, including transgender people and political opponents.
Letitia James: “I know what it feels like to be attacked for just doing your job. But I also know what it feels like to overcome adversity. And so I stand on solid rock. And I will not bow. I will not break. I will not bend. I will not capitulate. I will not give in. I will not… pic.twitter.com/glOd89UX1g
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) October 14, 2025
He also took aim at establishment Democrats, accusing them of selling out to corporations. “For too long, we have been told to be satisfied with abstractions and strongly worded letters,” he said. “That is not what this movement is, nor will it ever be. A movement by the people and for the people answers only to the people.”
Mamdani’s campaign promises a sweeping progressive agenda — free childcare, fare-free city buses, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and a new public safety department to replace some police duties. His plan would be funded through higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy, increased audits, and cutting waste.
Trump has lashed out at him, calling Mamdani a “100 percent communist lunatic” supported by “dummies.” Some Republicans have even demanded his deportation, while MAGA influencers have targeted him with Islamophobic slurs.
Despite backlash, Mamdani doubled down Monday. “Billionaires like Bill Ackman and Ronald Lauder have poured millions into this race because they say that we pose an existential threat,” he said. “And I am here to admit something — they are right.”
He ended his speech with one more jab, adding, “We are an existential threat to disgraced politicians like Andrew Cuomo, who harass women, betray the public trust, and cozy up to Donald Trump.”
