Bullies should not be tolerated, but you enable the biggest one.

We are now witnessing another generational standoff between America’s bully-in-chief, President Donald Trump, and Zohran Mamdani, the likely next mayor of New York City, whom Trump has referred to as “Mamdani the commie.” If Mamdani becomes mayor, Trump has vowed to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds from New York, take over New York “when we have to,” and arrest Mamdani if he defies federal immigration enforcement. This week, the president admitted Mamdani is likely to win, “but here’s the good news: He’s got to go through the White House.” The other object of Trump’s bullying is New York City voters, who effectively are being told that voting for Mamdani risks reprisals against their city. Trump’s vindictiveness will not stop with mere threats. To understand what is in store for New York, we need look no further than the illegal actions Trump has already perpetrated against colleges, universities, law firms and other cities and states. Trump may, for instance, direct federal agencies to conduct bogus investigations of New York City agencies for their use of federal funds. He may federalize the New York National Guard to patrol the City’s streets under the pretext of fighting crime. He may demand his Justice Department indict Mamdani on flimsy pretexts, such as not cooperating with his immigration policies. So far, Trump has spared New York from the wrath he has inflicted on other major Democratic Party-controlled cities, including Washington, D.C.; Chicago; and Los Angeles. But that’s because current Mayor Eric Adams agreed to cooperate with the administration’s immigration policies, and in return the Justice Department moved to dismiss Adams’ federal charges for bribery and fraud. With Adams no longer mayor, Trump will lose the benefit of that arrangement. Mamdani has no illusions about Trump’s vindictiveness. So far, Mamdani has politically pushed back against Trump’s bullying with the united front of New York’s two top state officials — Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James (herself a target of the president). He has likely recognized that every target of Trump’s bullying that has stood up to the president has gained rather than lost political clout. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, for example, regained public support after directly confronting federal agents when Trump sent the National Guard into LA. Bullies should not be tolerated, but you enable the biggest one.