The four candidates running to be the next mayor of New York City are reacting to the worst mass shooting in the city in a quarter-century as public safety and crime continue to be one of the most prevalent issues in the race. 

«Officer Didarul Islam was one of four people killed in yesterday’s horrific shooting,» Mamdani posted on X on Tuesday, a day after four people, including NYPD officer Islam, were gunned down by a Nevada man inside a high-rise office building on Park Avenue before the shooter took his own life in a crime that sent shockwaves though the city. 

«A Bangladeshi immigrant who joined the NYPD four years ago, he lived in Parkchester with his pregnant wife, their two young children, and his elderly parents.»

Mamdani’s post continued, «When he joined the police department, his mother asked him why he would pursue such a dangerous job. He told her it was to leave behind a legacy that his family could be proud of. He has done that, and more.

UNEARTHED VIDEO EXPOSES MAMDANI’S ‘UNABASHED’ COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ANTI-ISRAEL SANCTIONS AS LAWMAKER

«I pray for him, his family, and honor the legacy of service and sacrifice he leaves behind.»

MAMDANI DODGES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THREATS TO NYPD IN FIRST PRESSER SINCE DEADLY MANHATTAN SHOOTING

Mamdani’s post faced backlash from some online who accused the mayoral candidate of giving lip service to the police given his previous calls to defund the police and a post where he said «nature is healing» in response to someone who said they saw a police officer crying in his car.

Some also pointed to Mamdani’s previous pledge to disband the New York Police Department’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) which was a unit that responded to the midtown shooting.

«Come on, @ZohranKMamdani,» Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X. «Spare us the BS.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for an interview but did not receive a response.

During a Wednesday press conference, Mamdani offered comfort to the families of all the victims and attempted to distance himself from his previous calls to defund the police, saying that his «statements in 2020» were made out of «frustration» regarding the death of George Floyd.

«To the families of Aland and Officer Islam and to security guards and police officers across the city,» Mamdani said. «I want to thank them for the work that they do each and every day.»

The 33-year-old democratic socialist returned to New York City on Wednesday from his wedding celebration in Uganda and immediately visited the home of the fallen NYPD officer, Didarul Islam, and then held a press conference with Islam’s brother at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) headquarters in Manhattan.

Mamdani continued, «Looking at the crisis of retention that we have in the city today, to try and pin it upon tweets from five years ago, as opposed to the conditions of this moment, is to ignore what officers themselves are saying.»

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election in 2024.  (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

«When you ask officers why they leave, one of the leading causes they cite is forced overtime, an inability to have a quality of life when they know they are actually going to come home. These are the kinds of things that we have to address to ensure that not only can we keep the officers we have on the job, but that we can also deliver on public safety,» Madamni said. 

Incumbent mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer, is campaigning for re-election as an Independent. 

In his official capacity as mayor, Adams was quick to the scene Monday evening, posting social media updates and holding news conferences to relay the latest information on the tragic incident to New Yorkers. 

Since the shooting, Adams has attended the dignified transfer of Islam, and a multi-faith prayer vigil to honor the four victims. 

MAMDANI SPARKS FIRESTORM WITH RESURFACED COMMENT ON ABOLISHING PRIVATE PROPERTY: ‘HE’S A COMMUNIST’

NYPD Crime Scene Unit investigator takes pictures of a bullet hole at the scene of a deadly mass shooting in Manhattan, New York City, on July 29, 2025. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)

«We must continue to stand together every day to fight back against and prevent the senseless gun violence in our country,» Adams shared on X. 

Adams revealed to Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on «The Story» on Tuesday that the New York City gunman acquired part of his rifle from an associate. 

«The lower part [of the rifle] we are finding out was purchased by an associate,» Adams said.

The New York City mayor said there is a «mental health aspect» to Monday’s shooting, and «we have to ensure that our laws are stronger.» 

«Our laws must be clearer on identifying those with mental health issues,» Adams said. 

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa speaks during an anti-migrant rally and protest outside of Gracie Mansion on Aug. 27, 2023, in New York City.  (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Adams, who was unavailable for an interview before publication, clarified that «this incident did not unfold because of the lack of police personnel, it unfolded because a very dangerous person decided he was going to take the life of anyone he came in contact with.»

But Curtis Sliwa, the two-time Republican nominee for New York City mayor, told Fox News Digital that he believes understaffing played a role in the tragedy. 

«My initial reaction is exactly the reaction that I had when, a year ago, we saw Luigi Mangione gun down that health care executive right in the midtown area as he waited for him at a nearby Starbucks across from the Hilton,» Sliwa told Fox News Digital. 

«The police were not patrolling the area. It used to be in areas like that of high traffic. Tourists and business people in Fortune 500 companies would have a foot patrol in a sector. They’ve eliminated that because we just don’t have enough police.»

MAMDANI’S FORMER DEM COLLEAGUE RAILS AGAINST HIS SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN PROMISE: ‘NAIL IN THE COFFIN’

Candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference while campaigning outside a Subway station in New York City, on April 1, 2025.  (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)

Sliwa dismissed calls for more gun control in the wake of the shooting and said instead what the city «desperately» needs is more police officers on the streets.

«We’re down to 31,000 cops,» Sliwa said. «We need to get them up to 40,000. And I’m the only candidate who is saying we need to hire immediately 7,000 trained professional police officers to be visible in the streets of New York.»

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running for mayor as an Independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic Primary, spoke to Fox News Digital by phone and criticized Mamdani’s record on policing, including his previous call to disband the SRG.

«He said just a few months ago, he would disband the Strategic Response Group, which was the group that responds to first attacks and responded to this Park Avenue situation, and he’s been very consistent, he said in the campaign ‘defund the police,’» Cuomo said. 

«He goes the next step, dismantle the police, right? But he has said the NYPD are racists, the police are a threat to public safety. So I have said that I think he’s dangerous because he doesn’t understand the need for public safety in this city.»

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced he was relaunching his New York City mayoral campaign as an independent. (REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)

Cuomo told Fox News Digital that the shooting has the potential to shake up the mayoral race.

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«Yes, it does, because New Yorkers have PTSD from 9/11 and from other horrific situations, and I think it’s always in the back of every New Yorker’s mind that all it takes is one mentally ill person with an assault weapon and that’s TNT,» Cuomo explained. 

«That is a public safety stick of dynamite and, yeah, I think it brought that back. It’s sort of back to reality, right? New York City, you’re a target. You are a target, you’re an international target for terrorists. You are the big stage for people who want to make a statement.»

Families of hostages held in Gaza, along with a freed captive, are blasting Britain, France and other nations for deciding to recognize a Palestinian state, warning that these steps reward Hamas terrorists while dozens of hostages remain trapped underground.

The backlash came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that his government will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows U.N. aid and commits to a two‑state solution.

Emily Damari, a dual British‑Israeli citizen who survived Hamas captivity, posted on X, «As a Dual British-Israeli citizen who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, I am deeply saddened by your decision Keir Starmer to recognize Palestinian statehood. This move does not advance peace—it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.

STARMER SAYS UK TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE IF ISRAEL DOESN’T AGREE TO CEASEFIRE, HAMAS MUST ‘DISARM’

«By legitimizing a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, you are not promoting a solution; you are prolonging the conflict. Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on you,» Damari wrote.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of people still held in Gaza, also slammed the announcements.

«Recently, we’ve seen an increase in initiatives calling for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state – all while 50 hostages have been held captive by Hamas for 663 days. Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism. Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes.

Hamas terrorists stand in formation as Palestinians gather on a street to watch the handover of three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025 (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

«The abduction of men, women, and children, who are being held against their will in tunnels while subjected to starvation and physical and psychological abuse, cannot and should not serve as the foundation for establishing a state. If the international community truly desires peace, it must join U.S. efforts by demanding first the release of all hostages, followed by an end to the fighting.»

FROM GAZA TO GREENLAND, MACRON BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON GLOBAL FLASHPOINTS

On Tuesday, Starmer announced his intentions. «I can confirm that the U.K. will recognize the State of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, unless the Israeli government take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.» 

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack in southern Israel, hold their portraits during a protest at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on May 28, 2025, to mark 600 days of their captivity and demand their release and ending the war. (AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

France announced a similar step last week. After those statements, ten more countries said they intend to follow: Malta confirmed it will, and Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal and San Marino declared plans to move in that direction. Spain, Ireland, Norway and Belgium have also expressed support. The Netherlands, once considered one of Israel’s closest allies, has hardened its stance, threatening to remove Israel from an EU research program and barring Israeli ministers from entry.

Speaking aboard Air Force One after meeting Starmer in Scotland, President Donald Trump didn’t back the plan. «Essentially, they (the U.K. and France) are saying the same thing, and that’s OK. But you know it doesn’t mean I have to agree,» he told reporters.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) during a meeting on the situation in Ukraine and security issues in Europe at the Elysée Palace on Feb. 17, 2025 in Paris, France.  (Tom Nicholson/Getty Images)

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Veteran U.S. diplomat Dennis Ross also weighed in on X, warning that recognition without clear benchmarks could backfire, posting «Recognizing a Palestinian state without conditions will perpetuate the conflict not end it. What conditions? Leaders credibly committed to coexistence/non-violence, no independent militias, no alliances with rejectionists, recognition of the historic Jewish ties to the land.»

El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, firmó una orden ejecutiva que implementa un arancel adicional del 40% sobre Brasil, lo que elevó el arancel total al 50% a los productos de ese país. Lo anunció este miércoles la Casa Blanca en un comunicado.

La medida busca “abordar las políticas, prácticas y acciones recientes del gobierno brasileño que constituyen una amenaza inusual y extraordinaria para la seguridad nacional, la política exterior y la economía de Estados Unidos”, dijo el comunicado citado por el diario paulista Folha.

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Según la nota, los gravámenes fueron impuestos ante los “ataques insidiosos de Brasil a las elecciones libres y a los derechos fundamentales de libertad de expresión de los estadounidenses”.

La imposición de los aranceles se conoció después que Lula dijo al The New York Times que Brasil “nunca negociará como si fuera un país pequeño contra uno grande”.

“Conocemos el poder económico de Estados Unidos, reconocemos su poder militar y su tamaño tecnológico (…) Pero eso no nos asusta. Nos preocupa”, afirmó Lula en una entrevista publicada este miércoles.

Por qué Trump le aplica aranceles del 50% a Brasil

Trump venía amenazando a Lula con aplicar elevados gravámenes en medio de un enfrentamiento ideológico que crece día a día y la enconada defensa del magnate republicano al expresidente brasileño Jair Bolsonaro, juzgado por golpismo en Brasil.

“La persecución, intimidación, acoso, censura y enjuiciamiento políticamente motivados del gobierno de Brasil contra el expresidente brasileño Jair Bolsonaro y miles de sus seguidores son graves violaciones de los derechos humanos que han socavado el estado de derecho en Brasil”, acusó Trump en un comunicado.

Washington además asegura que miembros del gobierno brasileño “han tomado medidas sin precedentes para coaccionar de forma tiránica y arbitraria a empresas estadounidenses para que censuren el discurso político, expulsen a usuarios de sus plataformas, entreguen datos confidenciales de usuarios estadounidenses o modifiquen sus políticas de moderación de contenido”.

Este punto alude a una medida del juez Alexandre de Moraes, del Supremo Tribunal Federal de Brasil (STF), que a fines del año pasado ordenó la suspensión a nivel nacional de X. La decisión se produjo tras la negativa del director ejecutivo de la empresa, Elon Musk, de nombrar un representante legal en Brasil y su incumplimiento de las órdenes de moderación de contenidos dada por el magistrado.

EE.UU. sanciona a juez que procesa a Jair Bolsonaro

La orden ejecutiva de Trump se conoció después que Estados Unidos sancionó a de Moraes, el mismo que juzga por golpismo a Bolsonaro y que le impuso una serie de medidas cautelares al expresidente, como una tobillera electrónica y la prohibición de usar redes sociales.

El Departamento del Tesoro detalló en un comunicado que las sanciones financieras se enmarcan en la Ley Magnitsky, que autoriza al Gobierno estadounidense a sancionar a ciudadanos extranjeros implicados en actos de corrupción o violaciones a los derechos humanos.

Se trató de una nueva medida de presión por parte de la Casa Blanca, que el pasado 18 de julio revocó el visado a De Moraes y le prohibió entrar a territorio estadounidense.

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Poco después, el gobierno de Brasil calificó de “arbitrarias e injustificables” las sanciones económicas impuestas por Estados Unidos al juez de Moraes. “La aplicación arbitraria e injustificable, por parte de los Estados Unidos, de las sanciones económicas (…) contra un miembro de la magistratura nacional, constituye un grave e inaceptable ataque a la soberanía de nuestro país”, afirmó el jefe de la agencia para la defensa legal del Estado (AGU), Jorge Messias, en un comunicado.

Antes, la canciller brasileña, Gleisi Hoffmann, calificó como un “acto violento y arrogante” la sanción del Gobierno de Estados Unidos.

La aplicación de la ley Magnitsky contra el magistrado “representa un capítulo más de la traición de la familia Bolsonaro al país”, afirmó Hoffmann, en un mensaje publicado este miércoles en sus redes sociales.

Noticia que está siendo actualizada.-