The Trump administration is weaponizing the justice system to target political opponents, with NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani squarely in their crosshairs. What started as typical political theater has escalated into something far more dangerous: a coordinated attack on citizenship itself that threatens the constitutional rights of millions of naturalized Americans.

According to investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein, the Justice Department has issued an internal memo ordering attorneys to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings” against individuals who pose a “potential danger to national security.” This vague, limitless phrase has never before been used to strip Americans of their citizenship—and for good reason. Unlike terrorism or treason charges, “national security” is an unchallengeable assertion that courts can’t meaningfully review.

Trump has made Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor, a national target. “I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Trump declared. “Many people are saying he’s here unlawfully; we will examine everything.” The president repeatedly called Mamdani “a 100% Communist Lunatic” and “a pure, true Communist.”

The communist label isn’t just Trump’s social media rantings—it’s now part of official government discourse. At a Homeland Security Advisory Committee meeting, Trump bootlicker Rudy Giuliani told Secretary Kristi Noem he’d rather have “crook” Eric Adams than Mamdani because “he’s not a communist.” Giuliani escalated further, calling Mamdani “a combination of an Islamic extremist and a communist.”

When asked directly if he was a communist, Mamdani laughed and said, “I am not.” But facts don’t matter to an administration hell-bent on crushing progressive voices.

Here’s what makes this situation particularly infuriating: Democratic Party leadership is nowhere to be found. Despite their constant refrain of “vote blue no matter who” whenever a neoliberal or right-wing candidate wins a primary, not a single major Democratic leader has endorsed Mamdani—their own party’s nominee.

A petition launched by Our Revolution is demanding Democratic leaders stop “sabotaging” Mamdani’s campaign. The petition reveals that “Top Democrats including Chuck Schumer are refusing to endorse Mamdani—even though he’s the Democratic nominee, and behind closed doors, billionaire Democratic donors are lining up behind disgraced Mayor Eric Adams who announced he’s running as an independent against Mamdani in November.”

Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese hit the nail on the head: “Democratic leaders love to talk about unity—until a progressive wins. Every cycle, we’re told to fall in line for the good of the party. Well, Zohran Mamdani is the nominee—and yet the establishment’s silence is deafening.”

This hypocrisy exposes the Democratic Party’s true colors. They demand loyalty from progressives but abandon their own nominees when those candidates actually represent working-class interests. Mamdani embodies what the Democratic Party pretends to be: a champion for the people with policies that would genuinely improve everyone’s lives.

The attacks aren’t limited to Trump. Vice President JD Vance torched Mamdani for calling America “unfinished,” saying he “dares on our 249th anniversary to congratulate it by paying homage to its incompleteness.” Vance’s performative patriotism rings hollow when his administration is literally trying to strip citizenship from political opponents.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has demanded Mamdani denounce his previous comments supporting “globalize the intifada”—a stance that supporters argue is destructive to his campaign. This represents the Democratic establishment’s willingness to adopt right-wing talking points against their own progressive candidates.

The broader implications here are terrifying. Trump’s denaturalization campaign, backed by wealthy New York City and Israel-aligned interests, sets a precedent that could affect millions of naturalized Americans. As Klippenstein notes, “national security” has become a “magic wand” used to justify extrajudicial actions and suppress debate about military and intelligence operations.

Even during the McCarthy era’s anti-communist hysteria, the government didn’t fundamentally alter the legal framework surrounding citizenship. What Trump is attempting is unprecedented in American history—using the nebulous concept of “national security” to revoke citizenship without meaningful judicial review.

The establishment’s coordinated attack on Mamdani reveals their true fear: that progressive candidates might actually deliver on promises of economic justice, affordable housing, and policies that prioritize working families over wealthy donors. They’d rather see Trump succeed than allow a genuine progressive to prove that another way is possible.

Mamdani’s campaign represents hope for millions of Americans struggling with rising costs, inadequate healthcare, and economic inequality. His victory would demonstrate that progressive policies can win, even in America’s largest city. That’s exactly why the establishment—both Republican and Democratic—is so desperate to stop him.

The Trump administration’s escalation from deportation threats to potential arrest shows how far they’ll go to protect corporate interests. But their overreach may backfire. As Klippenstein observes, “the communist smear (and any federal campaign) will only strengthen Mamdani’s attractiveness to his voter base.”

The question now is whether Democratic leaders will finally stand with their own nominee or continue enabling authoritarianism through their silence. The fate of American democracy may well depend on their answer.